Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will throw their support behind a Japan-initiated effort to strengthen oil supply across Southeast Asia, following supply disruptions driven by war that have heightened concerns over energy security.

Officials from Saudi Arabia and the UAE attended a special meeting of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) on Thursday, where ministers from the grouping's 11 partner nations鈥攊ncluding Japan, Indonesia, and Australia鈥攃onvened in Manila to discuss cooperation on oil procurement and strategic reserves.

The framework, launched by Japan, is designed to advance regional collaboration on both the energy transition and energy security.

"Both Middle Eastern nations expressed their willingness to cooperate in strengthening Asia's oil reserve capacity," Kei Takagi, Japan's Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, told reporters in Manila. "We will deepen cooperation further and reinforce energy security."

Member nations adopted an AZEC ministerial work plan aimed at bolstering oil stockpiles and improving participating countries' ability to respond to potential supply shocks.

In April, Japan announced $10 billion in financial support for Southeast Asian nations hit hard by surging crude prices and supply disruptions stemming from the Middle East war. The initiative, put forward by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, covers oil procurement, storage, and emergency reserve assistance, with the goal of strengthening the region's resilience against future shocks.

After the US-Iran war broke out in late February, Asia bore the brunt of supply disruptions. The conflict laid bare a long-standing vulnerability in Southeast Asia: the region's heavy reliance on imported oil. Before the conflict, more than half of the region's crude imports came from Persian Gulf producers, while roughly 90% of Japan's oil originated from the region, most of it transported through the Strait of Hormuz.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent costs soaring and triggered severe shortages, forcing some refineries to cut processing rates and some governments to ration fuel, prompting policymakers to reassess their energy security strategies.

"Recent turbulence in global energy markets, especially the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, this critical chokepoint, has reinforced the importance of enhancing our collective ability to respond to energy supply shocks," Philippine Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said during a joint briefing with Takagi.

Vulnerabilities persist. Most member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations still hold relatively thin oil reserves, and crude prices above $100 a barrel make rebuilding those stockpiles costly.

The proposed framework could allow purchasing nations to negotiate bilateral supply arrangements with Middle Eastern producers. Such deals would also benefit Gulf suppliers by enabling them to position more of their crude closer to Asian customers.