Marcos backs UAE as Southeast Asia leaders urge restraint over Iran warMANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed solidarity with the United Arab Emirates and called for an end to hostilities in the Middle East as Southeast Asian governments responded to the escalating conflict involving Iran. Marcos conveyed the message during a phone call with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement Friday. During the call, Marcos expressed confidence in the UAE government’s ability to ensure the safety of residents, including nearly one million Filipinos living and working in the country. ASEAN urges ceasefireThe reaction from Manila mirrors broader concerns across Southeast Asia as governments call for restraint and diplomacy. Governments across Southeast Asia have also raised concerns about the safety of millions of migrant workers in the Gulf region as the conflict continues.
