Following the First and Second Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings held virtually on 13 March and 13 April 2026, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro and Secretary of Trade and Industry Ma. Cristina A. Roque, in their respective capacities as Chairs of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM),  co-chaired the Joint ASEAN Foreign and Economic Ministers’ Meeting on 7 May 2026,  to discuss the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its effects on ASEAN.

During the meeting, the Ministers exchanged views on the broader regional implications of the crisis, and identified practical, concrete response measures on strengthening energy security, safeguarding food security, and coordinating humanitarian responses.

Some proposals raised covered diversifying energy sources, suppliers and routes; enhancing food monitoring, information-sharing, and preparedness measures; and strengthening intra-ASEAN trade, investment, and supply chains. They also discussed the development of a crisis communication protocol at the Ministerial level to ensure coherent, timely, and coordinated response to crises.

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