April 16, 2026 | 11:11 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The second Special Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers on April 13 discussed the safety and welfare of ASEAN nationals in conflict-affected areas in the Middle East.
"The meeting also reaffirmed the shared commitment to provide emergency assistance to ASEAN nationals, particularly during this challenging time, in accordance with existing guidelines," according to the ASEAN Chair's statement on the meeting's outcomes on the official ASEAN Philippines 2026 website on Tuesday.
The foreign ministers acknowledged the assistance and efforts provided by other ASEAN member states in this regard and underscored the importance of exploring mutually beneficial cooperation with external parties.
The foreign ministers expressed their condolences to ASEAN member states for the loss of their citizens amidst the ongoing conflict.
They emphasized the importance of continued coordination among ASEAN member states in joint consular efforts to assist ASEAN citizens.
The meeting further expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Lebanon and the escalating tensions that have claimed the lives of three Indonesian peacekeepers and injured several other peacekeepers from other countries.
The meeting also discussed war impact to global economic activity, particularly in energy markets and maritime and air transport routes.
They underscored the importance of maintaining ASEAN's economic stability by ensuring stable, secure, sustainable, and resilient energy supply chains and maritime trade routes.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of ratifying the Second Protocol to Upgrade the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), which contains provisions on Trade in Humanitarian Crisis Situations.
They also emphasized the importance of ensuring financial resilience in responding to external shocks and encouraged closer coordination with international financial institutions to support ASEAN countries in addressing emerging threats to financial system stability.
They also underscored the need to enhance ASEAN's overall economic resilience by "deepening economic integration, investing in resilient infrastructure to accelerate energy transition and diversification, including renewable energy."
Furthermore, the meeting reaffirmed the importance of cross-pillar cooperation among the ASEAN Political-Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community, and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community to effectively address evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges.
The meeting also annoounced their commitment to undertake coordinated actions to ensure regional resilience in responding to the implications of the situation in the Middle East, for consideration by ASEAN Leaders at the 48th ASEAN Summit in May 2026.
The joint statement also underscored the importance of maintaining regional peace, stability and prosperity, upholding international law, and promoting dialogue and diplomacy as the primary means of reducing tensions and resolving conflicts.
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