In a recent interview on a talk show on CNN, when the host asked if the world was safer, pointing to the U.S. military actions targeting Iran's capabilities, you said the world is definitely "safer".
Since the invasion of Iran on 28 Feb 2026 which has now turned out to be a messy, cruel, and tragic event not only for innocent civilians in Iran but also for citizens in many ASEAN countries, many of whom have suffered immensely.
As of April 2026, Malaysia is experiencing significant economic pressure from the Iran war, including rising fuel costs, supply chain bottlenecks, and inflationary pressures on fertilisers and industrial materials like nitrile latex.
A "nationwide energy and economic crisis" is unfolding in the Philippines, which has become the first country to declare a national energy emergency since the invasion of Iran started.
While soaring fuel prices are impacting the entire globe, the Philippines is especially vulnerable because almost all of its oil is imported from the Persian Gulf.
Philippines is also extremely concerned with the war’s duration due to rising inflation pressures and, more importantly, the risk to Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East.
Thailand is particularly vulnerable because of its heavy reliance on imported oil, leaving the economy more exposed to shocks in energy prices, tourism flows, exports and exchange-rate stability.
The number of foreign visitors to tourism-reliant Thailand is at risk of falling to its lowest level in three years as the Middle East war threatens global travel.
The South-east Asian country could see 3 million fewer foreign tourist arrivals in 2026, a drop that could cost the economy 150 billion baht – about 10% of the nation’s total foreign tourist receipts in 2025.
In Vientianne, capital of Laos, more than 40% of the 2,538 filling stations were closed at the end of the 1st week in April 2026.
Indonesia is experiencing severe economic strain through soaring energy prices, supply chain disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, and inflationary pressures, a potential perfect storm of rising fuel costs, reduced foreign investment, and mounting fiscal pressure.
As at end of April 2026, diesel prices have spiked over 70%, forcing gig workers to quit and driving up inflation in Vietnam.
Collectively, countries in ASEAN have hundreds of thousands of Southeast Asian workers in the Middle East who will be adversely impacted by the war.
These workers send billions of dollars in remittances back to the region.
The economies in these countries are projected to see lower growth due to higher oil prices and dwindling tourist numbers due to travel risks.
As of 2024–2025, the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries have a total population estimated to be between 684 million and over 700 million people, the 3rd-largest population globally,
700 million people living in ASEAN are asking you for a detail clarification on your claim that the world is safer when they might not even survive for another week.
You are degrading their lives for the selfish interests of yours and countries in the western hemisphere.
These 700 million people in countries in ASEAN knows you and your fellow Dutch have an absmal record.
1st, Dutch government has resigned en masse in a gesture of collective responsibility in 2002, after a report criticised ministers and the military for failing to prevent the massacre of Muslims at Srebrenica during the Bosnian war seven years earlier.
Then in 2021, the Dutch government that was then led by you as the Prime Minister resigned en masse over a child welfare fraud scandal that criminalised and ruined the lives of thousands of innocent people.
In this current situation, it is not thousands, it is million of lives in countries in ASEAN that are ruined.
700 million people in countries in ASEAN are expecting you to show and demonstrate the same collective responsibility you demonstrated in 2021 when you were leading the Dutch government.
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