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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider ASEAN sees 'no impediment' to joint statement on Middle East crisis

ASEAN sees 'no impediment' to joint statement on Middle East crisis

Published May 6, 2026 03:29 pm

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) sees no major obstacle to issuing a joint statement on the ongoing Middle East crisis despite the involvement of key global powers, including the United States, a Summit spokesperson said.

In a press briefing here, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary and ASEAN spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial expressed confidence that ASEAN member-states remain united in crafting a collective response to the conflict as leaders gather in Cebu for the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings.

“We’re actually very confident about the declaration on how ASEAN will respond to the Middle East crisis,” he said on Wednesday, May 6.

“We do not see any impediment. In fact, we are very encouraged by the commitment of all the ASEAN member states,” he added.

Imperial said the primary goal of the proposed declaration is to establish mechanisms that would help ASEAN respond not only to the current conflict but also to future crises.

“The main purpose really here is for all the member states of ASEAN to be able to come up with measures that will help us respond not only to the current situation now, but also to other future crises,” he said.

Asked if ASEAN leaders are expected to issue a strongly worded statement or directly call on the United States and other parties to halt the conflict, Imperial said negotiations on the final document are still ongoing.

“The document is being negotiated, so I don’t want to preempt it, but what I can share with you right now is that there will definitely be a reference to that,” he said.

The Philippines earlier said that one of the key priorities of the ASEAN Summit is to address the impact of the Middle East conflict on energy security, supply chains, and the welfare of ASEAN nationals working abroad.

ASEAN centrality stressed

Meanwhile, Imperial underscored the importance of ASEAN centrality, which he said remains one of the Philippines’ priorities as chair of the regional bloc this year.

“And I want also to mention ASEAN centrality – that’s very important, and it’s also a priority of the Philippines as chair to uphold ASEAN centrality, and I think that’s what we are seeing especially for this outcome document,” he said.

Related Tags

Middle East conflict ASEAN ASEAN Summit DFA Dominic Imperial
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