Leaders of the Association of South-East Asian Nations are set to hold their annual summit in the Philippines on Friday, with the talks expected to focus on economic uncertainty and the continuing Middle East crisis.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who chairs this year’s summit, will lead discussions on how the region can ensure food and energy supplies, as well as the safety of Southeast Asian workers amid tensions in the Middle East.

“Through regional cooperation, we help trade flow, avoid unnecessary restrictions and maintain investors’ confidence,” Philippines’ trade undersecretary Allan Gefty said ahead of the summit.

“However, the current crisis also underscores the need to deepen the cooperation. National responses alone are not sufficient; we must strengthen regional coordination, particularly in energy security, food security, logistics, and supply chain resilience,” he added.

Nations in Southeast Asia have been particularly hard hit by the economic fallout from the war in Iran due to their dependence on oil deliveries via the Strait of Hormuz.

Leaders are expected to issue a joint statement outlining their plans to respond to the crisis, according to a Philippine foreign affairs official.

East Timor, which was admitted as the 11th member of ASEAN in Malaysia in October 2025, will join the summit for the first time this year.

The regional bloc is also expected to discuss the ongoing integration of East Timor, the latest developments in Myanmar, and tensions in the South China Sea between China and some ASEAN member states.

A series of ministerial-level meetings will be held on Thursday.

(dpa/NAN)