Southeast Asian leaders are expected to issue a declaration reaffirming international law, sovereignty, and freedom of navigation during an annual summit in the Philippines, in what analysts say could be interpreted as a subtle rebuke to global powers involved in the ongoing West Asia conflict. The draft statement, seen by The Associated Press, is set to be released when leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet on Friday in Cebu.

The declaration is also expected to outline a regional contingency plan aimed at addressing energy shortages and broader economic disruptions triggered by the war. The summit comes at a time when Southeast Asia, a region of about 680 million people, is grappling with global economic uncertainty, rising energy costs, and supply chain pressures linked to instability in West Asia.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., this year’s host, has directed that the summit avoid traditional ceremonial pomp, citing global economic headwinds. Discussions are expected to focus heavily on energy security, food supply stability, and the safety of more than a million Southeast Asian workers and seafarers based in West Asia, many of whom have been affected by the conflict.

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According to the draft declaration, ASEAN leaders will emphasize the importance of upholding international law and ensuring that regional cooperation is based on dialogue, trust, and respect for sovereignty. The statement also highlights the need to maintain open and secure sea lanes, protect freedom of navigation, and ensure the uninterrupted flow of essential goods such as food, energy, and industrial inputs in accordance with international maritime law.

The proposed contingency framework includes measures such as coordinated emergency fuel sharing, development of a regional power grid, diversification of crude oil sources, promotion of electric vehicle adoption, and exploration of new technologies including civilian nuclear energy. Leaders are also considering the creation of a regional crisis communication protocol to enable faster and more coordinated responses to future disruptions.

ASEAN members—including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, with East Timor recently admitted as a full member—have increasingly expressed concern over the global spillover effects of the West Asia war. Several Southeast Asian workers have been killed or evacuated from affected areas, while economic institutions have warned that prolonged instability could drive inflation and slow growth across Asia and the Pacific.

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