Energy security and disaster resilience top ASEAN Summit agenda

Energy security and disaster resilience are at the top of the agenda for the 48th ASEAN Summit, reflecting the region’s growing exposure to both geopolitical shocks and climate-related risks.

According to the website of the Philippines' Presidential Communication Office, ASEAN leaders are expected to prioritize a more coordinated and institutionalized approach to disaster management, focusing on interoperability, rapid response, and cross-border cooperation to better protect vulnerable populations.

The summit will take place on May 7–8. Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will join his ASEAN counterparts at the summit, which will be held in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

He is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with some of these leaders, according to an informed source.

At the same time, energy security has emerged as an equally urgent concern. With ongoing tensions in the Middle East driving up global fuel prices, ASEAN member states are increasingly vulnerable to supply disruptions and price volatility.

The summit will push for a unified regional response to stabilize energy access, cushion economic impacts, and accelerate cooperation on alternative and sustainable energy sources.

ASEAN recently convened two special foreign ministers’ meetings in response to the crisis in the Middle East and its spillover effects, particularly the energy shock and broader geopolitical risks.

Together, these twin priorities underscore ASEAN’s shift toward a more pragmatic and forward-looking agenda—one that addresses immediate crises while strengthening long-term regional resilience.

Due to national energy security concerns, the Cebu summit has been scaled down, with many preparatory and ministerial meetings moved online to cut costs.