ASEAN Should Diversify Energy Strategy, Expand Energy Partnerships, Says Expert

The Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should rethink its energy strategy in the wake of the West Asia crisis, by accelerating diversification and collaborating with more reliable and resilient partners for long-term energy security.

Dr Rahul Mishra, Associate Professor at School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), India, said ASEAN has to enhance self-reliance and rely more on renewable powers, like other regions, for its energy supplies.

“And that is something that I believe ASEAN is already working on, with some policy outcomes from meetings in the Philippines, perhaps the ASEAN summit there this year,” he said on Bernama TV’s Bernama World, on Monday.

Mishra, who is also a Senior Research Fellow at Thammasat University, Thailand, saidASEAN countries should focus more on middle powers and rising powers of the Indo-Pacific.

That, he said, include countries such as Japan, Australia and India, while Turkiye and European Union are emerging as important energy partners for Southeast Asian countries.

According to Mishra, the West Asia war has exposed vulnerability of ASEAN countries to external shocks, particularly in global supply chains and energy security.

“We are all witnessing that smaller economies like Thailand and the Philippines are already facing the brunt. Malaysia, not that much, because it has at least some energy self-sufficiency,” he added.

The West Asia conflict, which began with coordinated US–Israel strikes on Iran, followed by Tehran’s retaliatory attacks on US bases across Gulf states and escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, has caused severe disruptions to oil supply, triggering global energy shocks.

 Tensions remain high despite a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire that came into effect on April 8, as the United States and Iran have yet to reach agreement on key issues to end the war.

Against this backdrop, experts say ASEAN’s long-term resilience will depend on how effectively it balances traditional energy imports with accelerated investment in renewables, regional interconnectivity, and strategic reserves. Strengthening intra-ASEAN energy trade and cross-border grid connectivity is also seen as critical to reducing dependence on volatile external suppliers.

In addition, the crisis has reinforced the urgency for ASEAN to institutionalise energy cooperation frameworks that can respond quickly to geopolitical disruptions. Analysts argue that a more coordinated regional energy policy—rather than fragmented national approaches—will be essential to safeguard economic stability and sustain growth across Southeast Asia in an increasingly uncertain globalenvironment.

At the same time, there is growing recognition that energy transition strategies must be economically viable, ensuring that the shift to renewables does not compromise affordability or industrial competitiveness. Policymakers are therefore being urged to adopt a phased approach that balances immediate energy security needs with long-term sustainability goals.

Ultimately, the West Asia crisis is being seen as a strategic inflection point for ASEAN, pushing the region to reassess its dependency patterns and accelerate the creation of a more resilient, diversified, and future-ready energy ecosystem.