Middle East and ASEAN Energy Security

The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), serving as the central intergovernmental energy body for the region and the Secretariat for the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security (APSA), underscores the critical intersection between geopolitical stability and regional energy resilience. By recalling the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the Situation in the Middle East from March 2026, ACE highlights the heightened vulnerability of Southeast Asia’s energy supply chains to external shocks. This acknowledgement serves as a strategic reminder that regional energy security is deeply intertwined with global diplomacy, necessitating a proactive and coordinated approach among Member States to safeguard against potential disruptions that could impact economic stability and development across the ASEAN community.

The Middle East remains an indispensable partner in the ASEAN energy landscape, supplying more than half of the region’s crude oil imports, with significant volumes originating from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. ACE recognizes that any prolonged instability in this key corridor directly threatens the petroleum security frameworks established under APSA, which are designed to mitigate supply emergencies. Consequently, the Centre is emphasizing the urgency of strengthening regional preparedness and diversifying energy strategies to manage these dependencies effectively. By aligning technical energy coordination with high-level diplomatic insights, ACE aims to ensure that the ASEAN region remains resilient and responsive to the evolving complexities of the global oil and gas markets.