Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan's participation in the Second Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the Situation in the Middle East, 13 April 2026

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan attended the Second Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the Situation in the Middle East on 13 April 2026. The virtual meeting was convened by ASEAN Chair the Philippines.

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers discussed the continued impact of the conflict in the Middle East on our region, including on food and energy security, and agreed on the importance of a unified and decisive response by ASEAN. Recognising that a return to hostilities would have long-drawn implications, the Ministers reiterated the need for the immediate cessation of hostilities by all parties in the Middle East, and the resolution of differences through diplomacy and dialogue in line with international law.

Minister Balakrishnan expressed Singapore’s continued support for the Philippines’ leadership in coordinating ASEAN’s collective response to the situation in the Middle East. He noted that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have caused severe global supply chain shocks, with significant impact to the global economy and the livelihoods of citizens in ASEAN Member States.

Minister Balakrishnan welcomed the adoption of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the Developments in the Middle East, in particular the importance it placed on maintaining maritime safety and security, upholding freedom of navigation in and overflight above straits used for international navigation, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the restoration of the safe, unimpeded, and continuous transit passage of vessels and aircraft in the Strait of Hormuz.

He also called for the expeditious ratification of the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement and the Upgraded ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, the early realisation of the ASEAN Power Grid, and greater cooperation in keeping supply chains open and resilient. These efforts will strengthen our region’s readiness to face future crises.

Singapore will continue to monitor developments closely, and work with our ASEAN partners to collectively address the impact on our region arising from the conflict.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

13 APRIL 2026

Annex:

TRANSCRIPT OF REMARKS BY

MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS DR VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN

AT THE SECOND SPECIAL MEETING OF ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

13 APRIL 2026

Excellencies,

1.       I'm very glad that the Philippines, as our Chair, issued the Foreign Ministers’ statement [on the developments in the Middle East]. In particular, paragraph two states that “We reaffirm the importance of maintaining maritime safety and security, and upholding freedom of navigation in and overflight above straits used for international navigation, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, the relevant standards and recommended practices by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).” It adds that all of us in ASEAN “call for the restoration of the safe, unimpeded, and continuous transit passage of vessels and aircraft in the Strait of Hormuz in line with 1982 UNCLOS, as well as for all parties to ensure the safety of seafarers and ships in accordance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).”

2.       That's paragraph two of our statement. I think it is a very critical position that all of us in ASEAN need to uphold. It's not just a question of whether our flagged ships are trapped in the Gulf, but that many of those seafarers are ASEAN citizens, our brothers from ASEAN itself. There is a humanitarian aspect to getting those ships released and ensuring unimpeded and safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Therefore, I'm also glad that in paragraph four, we called for a full and effective implementation of the ceasefire. We're all disappointed that yesterday there was no agreement reached. I hope hostilities do not resume, and I hope that they will find a solution, especially for unimpeded transit through the Strait of Hormuz that is in accordance with 1982 UNCLOS. This will minimise the disruption beyond the price increases, but also the physical disruption and the scarring that it will impose on our economies.

3.       Now, having said all that, I also want to add my note of condolence to our brothers from Indonesia and their peacekeeping forces, which Indonesia has so graciously, time after time, committed to support world peace. Those brothers have made the ultimate sacrifice to serve their nation and to serve world peace. We also know that there are Filipino brothers who have lost their lives; again, innocent victims of battles and conflicts which we have no part of whatsoever. But these brothers were doing their best to support their families back home. That's an appreciation of the human dimensions in which this conflict, far away from us, affects all of us in ASEAN.

4.       There are three further things which I wanted to emphasise. First, we need the swift ratification of the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA). I'm very glad that Indonesia has now signed the APSA. I would like to encourage all of us to promptly ratify the APSA. Once this enters into force, our officials can carry out the procedures under the Coordinated Emergency Response Measures and to operationalise this agreement. This needs to be done urgently because, as I said, we are now at the critical phase of the energy security crisis in Southeast Asia. Singapore stands ready to contribute where possible.

5.       Second, to diversify our energy sources and to secure our energy resilience in the long term. While the APSA allows the supply of petroleum to distressed ASEAN member states during their time of need, this will not adequately address the shocks affecting all the countries in our region at the same time. We do need to accelerate our focus on long-term resilience. We've been talking about an ASEAN Power Grid for two decades, as far as I can remember. I wish we had done it and achieved that earlier. I wish we had invested in renewable energy, geothermal, solar, and all the other potential that renewable energy has for Southeast Asia. If all those investments had been made earlier, if our ASEAN Power Grid were functioning today, if we had overcome all the obstacles, political and commercial which have stood in our way for two decades, I think ASEAN would have been in a much stronger position. So, I make this plea now from the depths of our current crisis. Let's get a move on the ASEAN Power Grid. Let's use this to catalyse investments in renewable infrastructure throughout ASEAN, and make sure that ASEAN ends up fully net energy positive, a net energy exporter, and far more resilient for future crises.

6.       Third, I want to emphasise the need for us to keep our supply chains open and resilient, particularly during this time of crisis. This is a time when we must step up cooperation and coordination, share information in a timely manner, and facilitate the unimpeded flow of essential goods. All of us are victims of the effect of global chokepoints and physical supply shortages. But we must not panic. We must work together. We must not compete against each other, but instead support each other mutually. We should enhance our food cooperation, we should build on regional mechanisms, including the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) and the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS). We should enhance our trade integration. We should ratify the entry into force of the Upgraded ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA). This agreement has crisis-related and cooperation commitments which will serve us well for the future.

7.       So, as we look forward to the 48th ASEAN Summit next month, I propose that we work towards a Leaders' Statement which will be focused especially on building supply chain resilience for ASEAN. It will be a good opportunity for our leaders to signal a united ASEAN response to this crisis, and to show our collective resolve. I believe this statement should not only address the immediate challenges posed by the current crisis, but also chart a path towards a more resilient ASEAN, better equipped to confront future supply chain troubles. Singapore stands ready to continue working with all of you to ensure the well-being of our peoples during this period, and to strengthen our region's long-term resilience.

8.       Thank you all very much.

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