Riyaz ul Khaliq
28 April 2026•Update: 28 April 2026
- Kallas urges ASEAN against buying crude oil from Russia
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday warned of a “dangerous precedence” amid the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, as it has been two months since the US-Israeli war with Iran started.
“Freedom of navigation must remain free or it will set dangerous precedence elsewhere in the world,” Kallas told reporters in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, where she attended the 25th EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting.
“Two months into the Iran war, diplomatic efforts have yet to produce a breakthrough,” Kallas said. “Higher energy prices hurt both Europe as well as Asia.”
Speaking to reporters alongside Brunei Foreign Minister Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Kallas said: “In today's global landscape, none of our countries can afford to stand alone. What is happening in the Middle East makes this abundantly clear.”
On Feb. 28, the US and Israel launched a war on Iran, triggering Tehran's retaliation against US allies in the Gulf, and blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for oil and gas shipments, disrupting global energy supplies.
More than 3,300 people were killed in Iran, and thousands displaced internally.
At least 13 US servicemen were also killed and dozens of others wounded in the armed conflict, which paused on April 8 when Pakistan secured a Washington-Tehran ceasefire.
Islamabad is continuing its efforts to bring the two sides to the negotiating table for fresh talks to end the war permanently. The first round of talks was held earlier this month in the Pakistani capital.
EU urges ASEAN against Russian oil
Kallas also called on the 11-member ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) to stay away from approaching Russia for crude oil.
“We are advocating for diversifying resources and finding them elsewhere, not from Russia,” Kallas told the Jakarta Globe outlet during the news conference.
The wars would end “when aggressors run out of money to finance them,” she said, adding: “It’s in our interest that the revenues from Russian oil are actually shrinking.”
She also noted that the energy crisis "is benefiting Russia.”
In a joint statement released by the EU and ASEAN, the two sides reiterated their positions on the Ukraine-Russia war, “where most members expressed deep concern over the ongoing war, which continues to cause immense human suffering and carries global consequences.”
“As for all nations, we continued to reaffirm our respect for sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity,” said the joint statement, calling for a “sustainable ceasefire, and for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
“We expressed support for efforts towards the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy, based on the principles of the UN Charter and of international law,” it added.
