ASEAN Ministers Stress Unity, Resilience Amid Middle East Tensions

LAPU LAPU CITY, Cebu, May 8, 2026 (KPT) — Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reaffirmed their commitment to unity, economic resilience and security cooperation during a series of high level meetings in the Philippines, officials said Thursday.

Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn joined the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 31st ASEAN Political Security Community Council Meeting, the 38th ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting and the Joint ASEAN Foreign and Economic Ministers’ Meeting in Cebu.

Ministers pledged to advance the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and strengthen external partnerships, stressing coordinated responses to challenges affecting energy, supply chains and food security amid global uncertainty.

Discussions also focused on developments in the Middle East, with ministers underscoring ASEAN centrality and unity in addressing regional and global pressures.

Sokhonn said respect for sovereignty and the renunciation of force remained vital for peace, warning that intensifying geopolitical competition was reshaping the global landscape.

He welcomed Türkiye’s upcoming accession as a Dialogue Partner and urged timely talks on a moratorium for new partnerships.

Meetings reviewed progress on ASEAN’s strategic plan, preventive diplomacy and confidence building measures, while endorsing outcome documents for adoption at the 48th ASEAN Summit.

Cambodia also called for faster implementation of regional energy frameworks and deeper trade integration through RCEP and ASEAN free trade agreements.