From convening countries to connecting regions: Asean Plus in a fragmenting world


IN May 2026, South-East Asian leaders gathered in Cebu, the Philippines, for the 48th Asean Summit. However, the meeting was quickly overshadowed by a crisis originating far beyond South-East Asia.

The ongoing war between the United States, Israel and Iran, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, disrupted global oil shipments and raised concerns over surging energy and fertiliser prices.

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