ASEAN leaders urge safe passage through Hormuz amid protests

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday (May 8) warned of mounting economic and security risks facing Southeast Asia, citing escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Addressing leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Marcos called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the peaceful settlement of disputes, protection of civilians and infrastructure, and the restoration of safe, unimpeded transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

He urged stronger regional coordination to bolster energy security, stabilize supply, and accelerate the shift to renewable sources, while warning that disruptions linked to Hormuz had driven up fertilizer and food prices and underscored the need for coordinated action to safeguard supplies.

Earlier on Friday, about two dozen activists held a protest and urged the Southeast Asian leaders to veer away from fossil fuels, which they said was one of the main issues in the Middle East conflict and also a detriment to the environment.

-Adrian Portugal, Jay Ereno/Reuters