Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow on 13 April 2026 attended the Second Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the Situation in the Middle East via videoconference, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Meeting, chaired by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines in her capacity as the ASEAN Chair, discussed developments in the Middle East, particularly the ceasefire and negotiations between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and called on both parties to pursue diplomatic means toward a permanent resolution of the conflict.

It further reaffirmed the importance of maritime security, safety of the seafarers and those involved in the conflict, and upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), in and above chokepoints used for international navigation particularly in the Strait of Hormuz.

The meeting also discussed ASEAN’s preparations to address the multifaceted impacts of the conflict in the Middle East by strengthening existing ASEAN mechanisms, including (1) on energy, through expediting the ratification process of the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement for the early implementation, strengthening the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) and Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP) to the fullest potential, and mobilizing investment in renewable energy to accelerate the energy transition, particularly in solar energy and biofuels; and (2) on food, through expanding the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve mechanism to cover other essential food commodities, and promoting cooperation across the entire food production chain.

Previously, on 10 April, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a discussion with Mrs. Rukhsana Afzaal, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Thailand.

Both sides exchanged views on the ongoing situation in the Middle East.The Deputy Prime Minister commended Pakistan’s role in mediating and facilitating the ceasefire and ongoing peace talks between the U.S. and Iran, as well as the successful arrangement between Pakistan and Iran to facilitate the safe passage of Pakistani-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. They also explored cooperation between Thailand and Pakistan to facilitate the safe passage of essential Thai cargo vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.