Southeast Asian leaders adopted an emergency contingency plan Friday to shield their citizens and economies from the devastating impacts of the Iran war, as fuel price spikes and threats to more than a million migrant workers in the Middle East expose the region's vulnerability to global conflict.
Meeting in Cebu, Philippines, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations stripped away the traditional summit pageantry in recognition of the economic crisis gripping the region. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned that even if hostilities end immediately, "the damage to critical infrastructure, to vital systems and trust in general will continue to be felt for years to come."
Workers at Risk in the Middle East
A critical concern for ASEAN leaders is the safety of more than a million Southeast Asian citizens working and living in the Middle East. Several have been killed since the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Feb. 28 against Iran, with hostilities continuing sporadically despite a month-old ceasefire, particularly in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The joint declaration issued by the leaders called on the regional bloc's 11 state members to share information and strengthen coordination with international organizations "to ensure the safety and welfare of ASEAN nationals in affected areas." Yet the question of how to carry out large-scale evacuations if widespread hostilities flare up again remains unresolved.
Emergency Energy Measures
The Philippines, among the nations worst affected by fuel price spikes caused by the Iran war, pushed for immediate action on energy security. ASEAN's contingency plan calls for ratification possibly this year of an agreement enabling coordinated emergency fuel sharing, planning a regional power grid and fuel stockpile, and diversifying crude oil sources.
Promoting electric vehicles and studying civilian nuclear energy were also included in the crisis plan. The contingency steps will be implemented immediately, though Marcos acknowledged that establishing a regional fuel stockpile and power grid "is a complex matter and may take a long time."
"Let's talk about the fuel reserve. Is it going to be in one single place? Is it going to be scattered through the whole of ASEAN?" Marcos asked, highlighting the logistical challenges ahead.
A regional power grid allowing countries to trade electricity has been considered for years but has only been realized "at a fairly small level," Marcos said. Still, he emphasized that "they are committed to making this succeed because everyone is suffering and everyone wants to get out of this situation."
Calls for Peace and Safe Passage
Thailand's Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow was more emphatic than other delegates, calling for the current ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran to be extended and assurances for safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
"This war should not have occurred in the first place," Sihasak told AP in a brief interview, adding that all ASEAN states were alarmed. "We don't know what the objectives are right?"
Marcos said Southeast Asia will remain "in this limbo situation" until the Iran war ends. "Until the fighting ends, until the bombing ends, then it is very difficult to put together any kind of solution," he said.
Regional Security Challenges
Despite the focus on the Middle East, leaders also addressed major regional flashpoints, including South China Sea territorial disputes involving Beijing, a five-year civil war in Myanmar, and a recent border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.
Aside from the Philippines, ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. East Timor was accepted as a full member about 1 year ago.
Why This Matters:
The Iran war has exposed how vulnerable working families across Southeast Asia are to conflicts beyond their borders. More than a million migrant workers—often from the region's poorest communities—face direct threats to their safety in the Middle East, while fuel price spikes driven by the war hit household budgets hardest for those already struggling. The crisis reveals the urgent need for stronger regional cooperation, coordinated emergency response systems, and investments in energy security that protect ordinary people from the volatility of global markets and geopolitical shocks. Without collective action and institutional frameworks to share resources and coordinate evacuations, Southeast Asian nations risk leaving their most vulnerable citizens exposed to forces they cannot control individually. The question of whether ASEAN can move beyond years of planning to actual implementation of fuel reserves and power grids will determine whether the region can build resilience against future crises.