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ASEAN Urged to Diversify Energy Ties with Middle Powers Post-West Asia Crisis

A report calls for ASEAN to accelerate energy diversification and deepen ties with reliable middle powers like India after the West Asia crisis exposed supply chain vulnerabilities. Associate Professor Rahul Mishra of JNU recommends closer collaboration with Japan, Australia, Turkey, and the EU as key energy partners. Smaller economies such as Thailand and the Philippines are disproportionately impacted by global energy shocks, while Malaysia is less affected due to self-sufficiency. The crisis, triggered by US-Israel strikes on Iran, disrupted oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz, raising risks of operational stress by mid-June.

Key Points: ASEAN Must Diversify Energy Ties with Middle Powers: Report

  • ASEAN urged to diversify energy partners after West Asia crisis
  • Smaller economies like Thailand, Philippines hit hardest
  • Rahul Mishra suggests ties with India, Japan, Australia
  • Global oil inventories at risk of exhaustion by mid-June
2 min read

ASEAN must diversify energy ties to middle powers after West Asia crisis: Report

A report urges ASEAN to deepen energy ties with middle powers like India after the West Asia crisis exposed supply chain vulnerabilities.

"We are witnessing that smaller economies like Thailand and the Philippines are already bearing the brunt. - Rahul Mishra"

New Delhi, May 6

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations should accelerate energy diversification and deepen ties with reliable partners, including India, after the West Asia crisis exposed vulnerabilities in supply chains and energy security, a report said.

According to a report by Malaysian media outlet Bernama, Associate Professor at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Rahul Mishra, said ASEAN countries should strengthen engagement with middle and emerging powers in the Indo-Pacific.

He suggested closer collaboration with countries such as Japan, Australia, India, Turkey and the European Union, which are increasingly emerging as key energy partners for Southeast Asia.

Mishra noted that ASEAN may already be moving in this direction, citing possible outcomes from recent meetings in the Philippines, including the ASEAN summit scheduled later this year.

The report highlighted that global energy shocks have disproportionately impacted smaller Southeast Asian economies, underscoring the need to collaborate with more reliable and resilient partners for long-term energy security.

"We are witnessing that smaller economies like Thailand and the Philippines are already bearing the brunt. Malaysia, comparatively, is less affected due to some degree of energy self-sufficiency," said Mishra, who is also a Senior Research Fellow at Thammasat University in Thailand.

The West Asia conflict, triggered by US-Israel strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory attacks, disrupted energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global transit route.

Notably, another report warned that global oil inventories that can be tapped without disrupting supply chains could be exhausted within three weeks, raising the risk of operational stress in markets by mid-June. It noted that while global oil inventories stood at 8.4 billion barrels in early 2026, only a limited portion is readily usable without straining supply systems.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Makes sense for ASEAN to diversify, but I hope this doesn't become another geopolitical tug-of-war. Middle powers like India should focus on mutual benefit, not just competing with China or the US. Energy security is too important for politics.
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Vikram M
Interesting that they mention Turkey and EU as partners too. But let's be honest, India is the most natural fit - we're already part of their neighborhood, have growing energy needs ourselves, and can offer both renewable and traditional sources. The question is whether our infrastructure can meet the demand. 🤔
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Siddharth J
The report's point about smaller economies like Thailand and Philippines bearing the brunt is spot on. India should take the lead in creating a regional energy security framework - maybe something like an 'Indo-Pacific Energy Grid'. We have the technology for solar, wind, and even small modular reactors now. The time to act is now!
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Ananya R
While diversification is good, let's not forget that India itself needs to reduce its own oil import dependence first. We're talking about helping ASEAN, but we imported 85% of our crude last year! The government should focus on domestic exploration and renewables before lecturing others. Just saying. 😅
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Michael C
As someone working in the energy sector in Singapore, this is a very relevant analysis. The Strait of Hormuz disruption was a wake-up call for everyone in the region. India's strategic location and growing LNG infrastructure make it a great partner. But ASEAN also needs to look at Australia for critical minerals and Japan for hydrogen technology.

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