Urgent need for Asean to discuss collective response to Middle East crisis: PM Wong at 48th Asean Summit

Singapore’s Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Lawrence Wong, said: "There is an urgent need for Asean to discuss our collective response to this Middle East crisis". 

PM Wong was speaking at the 48th Asean Summit (Plenary) in Cebu, the Philippines, on May 8, 2026.

In his remarks, PM Wong said that the leaders of Asean were meeting under "very challenging circumstances".

He also emphasised the need for Asean solidarity to be upheld amidst the Middle East crisis, and for Asean to prepare for a world with more disruptions and shocks.

"We must uphold Asean solidarity"

PM Wong said that the leaders of Asean all hope for the crisis to end soon, but "have to be mentally prepared that the impact will be with us for some time".

He said: "Even if the Strait of Hormuz were to be opened tomorrow, it will take time – at least months – for damaged infrastructure to be repaired, for the Strait to be de-mined, and for goods to flow through the Strait again".

He added that Asia would be the hardest hit in the global economy due to its high dependence on energy and other critical supplies from the Gulf.

Extending condolences to Asean Member States who lost citizens in the conflict, PM Wong said: "Amidst this crisis, we must uphold Asean solidarity".

He said that is why, when Singapore held its repatriation flights from the Middle East, "we also brought brothers and sisters from several Asean Member States back to our region".

"We wanted to assist where we could, just as how our Asean family had lent a hand to Singaporeans in previous crises."

Strengthen Asean's collective resilience & energy security

PM Wong said: "The realities of the global economy going forward are that there will be more disruptions, more shocks, and more volatility."

He said this will be the "new normal" and in this environment, Asean must strengthen its collective resilience and reinforce its collective energy security

PM Wong said: “We must double down on Asean integration”, instead of putting up more barriers and turning inwards.

Citing the upgraded Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), he urged for their swift ratification.

ATIGA allows Asean Member States to leverage on crisis-related provisions and commitments on trade in essential goods during times of shortage or emergencies.

APSA gives Asean Member States tools to respond to and minimise exposure to energy crises.

For both ATIGA and APSA, PM Wong said these agreements "should not be the be-all and end-all" and should be treated as a base for further discussions among like-minded Asean countries to come together for arrangements that would provide mutual support.

PM Wong also urged to accelerate the realisation of the Asean Power Grid (APG).

"This will give Asean Member States the ability to trade surplus electricity and share reserve capacities."

He added that this would build stronger resilence against future supply disruptions and external shocks while powering the region in a sustainable manner.

Strengthen intra-Asean supply chains

PM Wong said for critical goods like food, Asean should strengthen intra-Asean supply chains.

"Asean is in fact a major production centre, accounting for almost 10% of global agricultural exports."

He said that the upgraded ATIGA is timely as it reduced non-tariff barriers to the food trade and encourages the exchange of food safety information.

"Such initiatives can complement existing efforts under the Asean Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve and the Asean Food Security Information System."

Community-building agenda

PM Wong said that Asean should work closely to achieve its community-building agenda and that the adoption of the Cebu protocol on May 8 was a significant milestone.

He also noted Asean Charter's first-ever amendment to reflect Timor-Leste's membership and said Singapore supports the country's Asean chairmanship in 2029.

PM Wong ended his remarks by thanking host country, the Philippines for its steady leadership of Asean as the current chair.

"I look forward to working with fellow colleagues across Asean Member States to chart a course that will provide Asean with lasting security, stability, and prosperity."