The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met in Cebu on May 7–8 for its summit, where leaders addressed regional security, the ongoing Middle East energy crisis, and the civil conflict in Myanmar. Hosted by the Philippines as this year’s ASEAN chair, the summit highlighted deep regional vulnerabilities to external economic and geopolitical shocks.
Middle East Energy Crisis Dominates Regional Agenda
The war in Iran took center stage during the Cebu meetings, overshadowing traditional regional concerns like the South China Sea. ASEAN leaders expressed serious concern over the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, noting that most member states rely heavily on energy imports from the Gulf region.
To mitigate future vulnerabilities, Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged the ratification of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security. This pact, signed last year to replace an unexecuted 1986 agreement, aims to establish regional fuel stockpiles that member nations can share during crises. Marcos also pointed to the ongoing crisis as an added catalyst for building out the ASEAN Power Grid to improve cross-border energy interconnectivity among all 11 member countries.
Simultaneously, the summit addressed broader economic headwinds. Previous chair Malaysia used the diplomatic stage to reiterate public calls for a united front against trade pressures, including Liberation Day tariffs introduced by the Trump administration, though joint ASEAN efforts in response to the energy crisis will take a backseat to bilateral deals.
Stalemate Over Myanmar and Human Rights Divisions
The civil war in Myanmar remained one of the bloc’s most contentious agenda items. Naypyidaw sent a delegation led by U Hau Khan Sum, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following carefully orchestrated elections.
ASEAN continues to bar senior political leaders from Myanmar—including coup leader-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing—from participating in high-level summits. The regional bloc insists that authorities must first implement the Five-Point Consensus agreed upon after the 2021 coup. However, member states remain sharply divided on how to handle the new pseudo-civilian government:
- Thailand: Has pushed for ASEAN to accept the junta’s recent election results and normalize Naypyidaw’s full participation in the grouping.
- Timor-Leste: Has expressed interest in initiating legal proceedings against the Myanmar junta for ongoing human rights violations.
- Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines: Remain hesitant to fully normalize relations while the civil war continues and much of the country stays under resistance control.
As an apparent compromise, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn announced during the summit that virtual talks between ASEAN foreign ministers and their Myanmar counterparts are expected soon. Meanwhile, reports indicated that imprisoned former elected leader Aung Saan Suu Kyi was moved to house arrest on May 1, though authorities have refused foreign requests to verify her wellbeing.
Border Tensions and Bilateral Friction
On the sidelines of the summit, President Marcos facilitated a meeting between Thai Prime Minister Anutin Chanvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. This marked the first meeting between the two leaders since a border war flared up in December.
The bilateral conflict has remained frozen under a shaky six-month ceasefire that leaves Thai troops in control of specific sections of Cambodian territory. While all three leaders underscored the importance of regional peace, Thailand and Cambodia agreed only to limited confidence-building measures without achieving a lasting breakthrough. Compounding the diplomatic friction, Thailand unilaterally voided a two-decade-old agreement with Cambodia on May 5 regarding overlapping claims in the Gulf of Thailand.
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