On Saturday, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed “grave concern” over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and the alarming death toll.
During a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States is “working tirelessly every day” to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and establish a path to lasting peace and security.
His comments came after Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi emphasized the urgent need for a permanent peace. “We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza,” Marsudi said.
Blinken urged ASEAN countries to cooperate in addressing issues such as the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and North Korea’s missile programs.
Before meeting with his Chinese counterpart on Saturday, Blinken called on ASEAN foreign ministers to contribute to addressing challenges including “Beijing’s escalatory and unlawful actions” in the South China Sea.
In a joint statement issued after two days of closed-door meetings in Laos, ASEAN also welcomed unspecified practical measures to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea and prevent incidents and miscalculations.
The statement described North Korea’s missile tests as a troubling development and called for peaceful resolutions to the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
