🔺 Tensions in the Middle East and the South China Sea cast a shadow over the ASEAN summit; Rubio emphasized freedom of navigation

▪ The Middle East crisis and the escalation of security tensions in the South China Sea were the main focus of the meeting of the foreign ministers of the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations “ASEAN” and the partners of this bloc in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. The ministers attending the meeting, while expressing concern about the spread of conflicts, warned about its consequences for energy security, global trade, and regional stability.