PM Wong urges ASEAN to prepare for new normal of disruptions by strengthening integration

At a time when it is tempting for countries to put up more barriers and turn inwards, doing so will give investors confidence that ASEAN is integrated and determined to work together in times of crisis, he said.

ATIGA includes crisis-related provisions and commitments on trade in essential goods, such as food and medical supplies.

PM Wong said ASEAN member states can leverage these mechanisms to work closely together during times of shortages or emergencies.

He added that the regional trade pact should be treated as a base, calling on ASEAN countries to go even further.

Like-minded countries can come together on other agreements that will provide mutual support as well as give assurances of open markets and no export restrictions even in times of shortages, he suggested, saying that the ASEAN economic ministers can expedite these measures.

The grouping should also strengthen energy security through the swift ratification of the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), which was recently renewed in 2025, he said.

The agreement sets out a framework for the sharing of petroleum during emergencies, and PM Wong said it would give member states more tools to respond during energy crises.

Similarly, APSA should be treated as a base and not be the be-all and end-all, he added.

He noted that ASEAN ministers and officials have been discussing various ideas, including the possibility of a regional fuel stockpile, and said this should be encouraged.

Additionally, the grouping should speed up the realisation of the ASEAN Power Grid, which will allow member states to trade surplus electricity and share reserve capacities.

PM Wong said this will build resilience against future supply disruptions and external shocks, while powering the region’s growth in a more sustainable manner.

ASEAN is aiming to achieve a fully integrated regional electricity grid by 2045.

Another thing it can do is to strengthen intra-ASEAN supply chains, especially for critical goods like food, said PM Wong.

As a major production centre, the region accounts for almost 10 per cent of global agricultural exports and should tap this inherent strength to meet the needs of its people, he added.

The upgraded ATIGA reduces non-tariff barriers to food trade and encourages the exchange of food safety information, and can complement existing efforts such as the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve and the ASEAN Food Security Information System, he said.

PM Wong added that even as member states deal with the crisis, it is important to keep alive the spirit of ASEAN solidarity.

That is why Singapore helped to bring back citizens from other ASEAN countries when it repatriated its own citizens from the Middle East in the early days of the conflict, he said.

“We wanted to assist where we could, just as how our ASEAN family had lent a hand to Singaporeans in previous crises,” he added.

In the years ahead, ASEAN must also work closely to achieve its community-building agenda, he said. A significant milestone in this effort is the adoption of the Cebu Protocol, the first ever amendment to the ASEAN Charter to reflect the membership of Timor-Leste.

One of the world’s youngest countries, Timor-Leste officially became the 11th member of the grouping in 2025.

PM Wong said Singapore supports Timor-Leste’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2029.

Thanking the Philippines for its steady leadership of the grouping during the challenging times, he said: “I look forward to working with fellow colleagues across ASEAN member states to chart a course that will provide ASEAN with lasting security, stability and prosperity.”

The ASEAN chairmanship is rotated among members in alphabetical order, with Singapore slated to assume it in 2027 and Thailand in 2028.