Manila summit urges end to US‑Iran hostilities, demands free navigation

Foreign ministers of the 11‑member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened in Manila for a multi‑day diplomatic summit. The ministers issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran, calling for an immediate cease‑fire and the restoration of safe, unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz. They warned that the conflict threatens regional energy supplies, food security and trade, exacerbating inflation in a bloc that accounts for about 680 million people and a combined GDP of $3.8 trillion. The meeting also addressed other regional challenges, including the civil war in Myanmar, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and the stalled ASEAN‑China code of conduct. Participants included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Australian and British officials. On the sidelines, Quad foreign ministers (United States, Japan, India, Australia) reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open Indo‑Pacific and to ASEAN’s centrality.