ASEAN Manila Meetings Amid Iran War
Analysis based on 131 articles · First reported Jul 19, 2026 · Last updated Jul 23, 2026
The renewed Iran conflict and threats to the Strait of Hormuz have heightened energy supply risks, impacting global oil and LNG prices and stoking inflation, particularly in energy-importing Southeast Asia. The diplomatic meetings in Manila underscored the geopolitical uncertainty, but no concrete market-moving agreements were reached, leaving markets on edge.
The annual ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meetings and related forums (Post-Ministerial Conferences, ASEAN Regional Forum, East Asia Summit) were held in Manila from July 21-24, 2026, chaired by the Philippines. The meetings were dominated by the renewed U.S.-Iran conflict and its impact on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil and LNG supplies. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Iran's demand to control and toll the Strait would set a dangerous precedent and threaten the global economy. He met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and other counterparts, reaffirming U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific and the Quad. ASEAN ministers issued statements expressing serious concern over Middle East hostilities and calling for a halt to fighting and reopening of the Strait. The meetings also addressed the South China Sea disputes, with a new clash between Chinese and Philippine forces, and the stalled Myanmar peace process. India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held bilateral meetings with counterparts from Oman, the UK, the Netherlands, and the Philippines, and addressed the ASEAN Regional Forum on maritime security and counter-terrorism.
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