Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
19 June 2025 | 13:50 CAT
2-minute read

As global conflicts escalate in the Middle East and tariff negotiations with the US grow increasingly fraught, Southeast Asian countries are feeling the pressure—both politically and economically.

In this week’s Asia Pacific Report, Dr Bridget Welsh, an educator and political analyst based at the University of Nottingham’s Asia Research Institute in Kuala Lumpur, unpacked how tensions in the Middle East and shifting trade policies are reverberating across the region.

“There are many, many Southeast Asian workers in the Middle East,” she explained, “and so we’ve seen many ties, over 40 000 of them trying to scramble.”

The conflict’s human impact has extended beyond diplomatic statements, triggering evacuations and economic uncertainty for migrant workers from the region.

Malaysia has taken a bold and public stance. “Malaysia… has actually adopted a position that has defended Iran,” Dr. Welsh said.

“Basically talking about how the attacks are unjustified from their perspective, and calling on the international community to re-examine what is happening and the role that Israel is playing.”

The sentiment is echoed in Muslim-majority Southeast Asian nations, where widespread anger over Israel’s actions in Gaza has mobilised public and political solidarity.

Yet the region is far from united. While Malaysia and Indonesia voice strong support for Palestine, countries like Singapore and Thailand maintain warmer diplomatic ties with Israel.

“Among other Southeast Asian countries, such as Singapore and Thailand,” she noted, “there is more sympathy for Israel… but they similarly see this unnecessary escalation of the attacks as deeply worrying.”

A month-long territorial dispute between Cambodia and Thailand over border regions has escalated into a national security concern.

“We’ve had one death so far in skirmishes between the two countries,” Dr Welsh reported.

Cambodia has approached the international court once again, and trade and labour flows between the two neighbours have already been disrupted. “There are also some tensions between some of the older leaders,” she added, “and this is spilling over into domestic politics.”

Meanwhile, the region’s economic resilience is being tested by US tariffs that are reshaping global trade dynamics. Vietnam, in particular, has taken a hit. “Its economy is dependent on exports and it’s received a shocking tariff… of over 40 percent,” Dr Welsh revealed.

Despite proactive engagement with Washington, Southeast Asian countries have found the US response to be inconsistent and unclear. “There’s been a lot of frustration… the United States doesn’t have a clear strategy,” she concluded.

Listen to the Asia Pacific Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.