Government of Timor-Leste

On April 13^th, 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, accompanied by the Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Rangel, participated in the Second Special Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers on the Situation in the Middle East, held via videoconference under the chairmanship of the Philippines. 

The meeting brought together Ministers of Foreign Affairs and senior ASEAN officials and was also attended by ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn to assess developments in the Middle East and their global and regional implications, including impacts on energy and food security and on the resilience of supply chains.

The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, and followed up on the first special meeting held in March of this year.

During the session, participants exchanged views on worsening geopolitical dynamics. They emphasised the need to mitigate the conflict's effects, strengthen regional cooperation, and promote a coordinated ASEAN response to emerging challenges.

The ministers adopted a joint statement on developments in the Middle East, in which they welcomed the announcement of a temporary ceasefire, called for its full implementation, urged all parties to exercise restraint, and called for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in accordance with international law.

The statement also reaffirms the importance of maritime security and freedom of navigation, and the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and to ensure the safety of humanitarian personnel.