Energy crisis dominates Asean summit, forcing long-standing issues to back burner

AI Summary

Leaders of Southeast Asian nations confronted the ongoing energy crisis during the Asean summit, prioritizing discussions on regional fuel costs exacerbated by international conflicts, particularly the war in Iran.

The spectre of the global energy crisis loomed over the three-day Asean summit in the Philippines as regional leaders converge for a final day of talks in Cebu on Friday. Analysts say that while some major flashpoints were addressed – with Thailand and Cambodia’s joint statement of solidarity being a bright spot – surging fuel costs as a result of the Iran war weighed heaviest on the minds of Southeast Asian leaders. The fuel crisis was the “defining issue”, said Vu Lam, an Asean observer and...