The Latest on Southeast Asia: Southeast Asia Reacts to the Iran War

Photo: MOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images

Blog Post by Lauren Mai and Gregory B. Poling

Published March 5, 2026

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) issued a joint statement on March 4 calling for an immediate ceasefire following the U.S.-Israeli surprise strikes on Iran and the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The ASEAN ministers urged all countries involved to respect international law and the UN Charter, including protecting civilians during armed conflicts. The foreign ministers also confirmed that they would work together if necessary to provide emergency assistance to Southeast Asian nationals in the Middle East.  

Most Southeast Asian governments have also issued individual responses to the war. Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto has been the most forward-leaning, offering within hours of the first U.S.-Israeli strikes to travel to Tehran and “conduct mediation.” The Iranian ambassador in Jakarta responded diplomatically, voicing appreciation for Indonesia’s continued support but questioning the impact of the gesture and urging it to condemn the United States and Israel. The timing of the strikes puts domestic political pressure on Prabowo for his already controversial decision to join the U.S.-led Board of Peace meant to manage the rebuilding of Gaza. Foreign Minister Sugiono said this week that Indonesia is now reconsidering its participation in the Board of Peace. 

Malaysia and Brunei have taken a more critical stance “strongly condemning” the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. Both countries urged all parties to “exercise maximum restraint” to prevent further escalation and said disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim also highlighted concerns about the welfare and safety of Malaysians in Iran and the Middle East.  

Thailand and the Philippines have focused more narrowly on the safety and possible evacuation of their citizens in the region. The Thai Foreign Ministry confirmed that around 110,000 of its nationals reside in the Middle East, most of whom work in Israel. These Thai nationals have been placed on alert, with plans to organize a safe evacuation. Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. affirmed that the well-being of the roughly 2.2 million Filipinos in the Middle East is the government’s top priority. A Filipina caregiver in Israel was killed by an Iranian missile strike on March 1. Cambodia, Singapore, and Vietnam have also issued statements of regret that negotiations failed to avert the conflict and confirmed that their top priority is ensuring the safety of their citizens in the Middle East. 

Beyond the immediate safety of Southeast Asian nationals in the conflict zone, the most direct impact for which regional governments are preparing is the impact of surging energy prices. Thailand moved quickly to safeguard its oil reserves by suspending exports of crude oil and petroleum product. Indonesia, which has two state-owned tankers stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, has said it will increase oil imports from the United States to make up for the disruption in supplies from the Gulf. An ING report predicts that the Philippines, which imports more than 90 percent of its oil from the Gulf and does not subsidize fuel like many of its neighbors, is among the most vulnerable to sharp price increases.  

By shifting focus and forces toward Iran, the U.S. government has also sparked concerns about the credibility of its defense commitments in the Indo-Pacific. The Beijing-based South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative was quick to report that U.S. land-based reconnaissance aircraft sorties over the South China Sea decreased by around 30 percent in February as it shifted assets toward Iran. Senator Tammy Duckworth raised the issue during a March 3 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, telling Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby that the war in Iran detracts from the “focus and preparation” needed to deter Chinese aggression. U.S. allies in the region likely share that anxiety even if they will not risk the administration’s wrath by saying so in public.

Lauren Mai is a Program Manager and Research Associate for the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. Gregory B. Poling is a senior fellow and director for the Southeast Asia Program and the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at CSIS.

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