Foreign Ministers of the 11 nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) opened their three-day conference in Manila, Philippines on July 21 with a closed-door morning session on the worsening situation in Southwest Asia, followed by the release of a joint message, the “ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the Evolving Situation in the Middle East”. They call for an immediate halt to all fighting in Southwest Asia and a full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The statement reads, “We expressed serious concern over the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East, particularly the renewed hostilities involving the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Renewed fighting only diminishes the prospects for a peaceful resolution of the disputes.
The statement calls for “the utmost self-restraint” to attain peace, stability, prosperity, and the rule of international law. The ministers called for maintaining maritime safety and security and upholding the freedom of navigation through, and flights over, the Strait of Hormuz. They recognize the immediate and long-term effects that this conflict has imposed on the 680 million citizens of the ASEAN countries. They identify how the war has affected regional trade, energy, food security, supply chains, agriculture, and agriculture inputs, especially fertilizers.
The ASEAN ministers pledged to increase internal cooperation and coordination and to provide emergency assistance to each other in times of crisis.
