ASEAN Voices Concern Over Middle East Situation and Online Scam Crimes

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The foreign ministers of ASEAN member states have voiced concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East and the growing threat of cross-border online scam crimes.

They also called for stronger regional cooperation, as conveyed by ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn on Tuesday (28 July).

In his address at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Kao said the foreign ministers had held an open discussion on geopolitical competition, regional security and developments in the Middle East situation during their annual meeting in Manila.

The ministers also issued a joint statement calling for dialogue, expressing concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and reaffirming the need to protect civilians in accordance with international law.

Kao added that the ministers also agreed to strengthen coordination through ASEAN-led security mechanisms to mitigate the impact of the Middle East conflict on Southeast Asia, particularly on energy and food resilience, supply chains, and the safety of ASEAN nationals in the region.

The foreign ministers also identified online scams and cross-border organised crime as urgent regional challenges. They warned that increasingly sophisticated criminal networks have fuelled a surge in human trafficking, money laundering and cross-border abuse of digital technology.

“This is an issue that currently affects us all, and there is a need to strengthen regional cooperation, both within ASEAN and between ASEAN and its external partners,” Kao said.