Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warns that Asia will be the hardest hit by the Middle East crisis due to its high dependence on energy and other critical supplies from the Gulf. He calls for ASEAN to reinforce its collective energy security and strengthen supply chains to prepare for disruptions and shocks.
Singapore’s prime minister warned that Asia will be the hardest hit by the Middle East crisis because of its high dependence on energy and other critical supplies from the Gulf.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong arrives at Mactan-Cebu International Airport for the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Cebu, Philippines on May 7, 2026. Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results.
CEBU, Philippines: The Association of South-east Asian Nations must reinforce its collective energy security and strengthen supply chains to prepare for a world with more disruptions and shocks, said Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Friday . Speaking at the plenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit, Mr Wong said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has affected all member states.
Mr Wong called for the swift ratification of the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement, last renewed in 2025, saying this would give the region more tools to, a plan to connect the electricity networks of its member countries, which would allow states to trade surplus electricity and share reserve capacities.
"This will certainly help build stronger resilience against future supply disruptions and external shocks, while powering our region’s growth in a more sustainable manner," he said. On supply chains, Mr Wong said intra-ASEAN networks, especially for critical goods like food, needed to be strengthened. Noting that ASEAN accounts for almost 10 per cent of global agricultural exports, he said the region should tap its strengths to better meet its people's needs.
The agreement includes crisis provisions and commitments on trade in essential goods, and reduces non-tariff barriers to food trade while encouraging the exchange of food safety information. Asia will be the hardest hit by the Middle East crisis because of its high dependence on energy and other critical supplies from the Gulf, Mr Wong said, adding that ASEAN must double down on integration to bolster its collective resilience.
"We all hope the crisis will end soon, but we have to be mentally prepared that the impact will be with us for some time," he said. Even if the Strait of Hormuz were opened tomorrow, it would take at least months for damaged infrastructure to be repaired and for goods to flow again, Mr Wong added. On the sidelines of the summit, Mr Wong met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet separately on Thursday.
With Mr Anwar, he discussed the Middle East conflict and ASEAN's role, and also touched on the RTS Link project, expected to be operational by end-2026. Sign up for our newsletters We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast, secure and the best it can possibly be.
Middle East Crisis Asia Vulnerability ASEAN Energy Security ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement ASEAN Intra-ASEAN Networks ASEAN Agricultural Exports ASEAN Food Trade
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