1. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers convened a Special Meeting on 13 March 2026, via videoconference, to exchange views on the evolving situation in the Middle East and to address its implications for ASEAN.
2. The Meeting expressed serious concern over the escalation of conflict in the Middle East following the attacks initiated by Israel and the United States against the Islamic Republic of Iran on 28 February 2026, and Israeli attack on the Lebanese Republic, and the subsequent retaliatory attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against several countries in the region, including the Kingdom of Bahrain, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Iraq, State of Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, and the United Arab Emirates, which continue to heighten tensions in the Middle East, and pose a grave threat to the lives and safety of civilians, as well as to regional and global peace and stability. The Meeting called on all countries to respect international law, including the Charter of the United Nations (UN Charter).

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1. We, the ASEAN Economic Ministers, met at the 32nd ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat in Taguig, Philippines, and exchanged views on the evolving global and regional situation including the tension in the Middle East and its potential implications for the ASEAN region and global and regional economy. We are also closely following with concern the continued global trade uncertainties and unilateralism. We reaffirmed our commitment to ASEAN Centrality and recognised the need for continued regional coordination, vigilance, and policy preparedness amidst a challenging global environment.
2. We expressed deep concern over the continued tensions in the Middle East. The escalating conflict has generated broader economic repercussions beyond the region, particularly through heightened volatility in global energy markets and disruption of key maritime and supply chain routes, bringing about uncertainty and significant challenges to the economy, businesses and global trading dynamics. Such disruptions are leading to higher freight, insurance, and logistics costs and contribute to inflationary pressures on energy, food, and other essential goods. A prolonged period of geopolitical instability could pose sustained challenges to the global economic outlook, which has already been battered by multiple headwinds in recent years. It will also impact economic security and stability, the livelihoods of millions of people in the region, and hinder economic progress in ASEAN.

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Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered a pre-recorded keynote speech at the ASEAN Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Traffic Management (STM) Seminar held on 12 March 2026 in Manila, Philippines, jointly hosted by the Philippine Space Agency, Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). In his remarks, Dr. Kao highlighted the growing congestion and risks in Earth’s orbit and underscored the need to strengthen regional cooperation on space safety and governance. He called on stakeholders to translate the dialogue into concrete actions that would feed into the anticipated ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Space Cooperation, expected to be adopted at the ASEAN Summit later this year in the Philippines.

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