State of the World from NPR How is the war in Iran impacting Southeast Asia?
Mar 26, 2026
Carrie Kahn, an NPR foreign correspondent who tracked Iran's online propaganda, and Michael Sullivan, an NPR field reporter covering Southeast Asia's energy and economy. They discuss fuel shortages and economic strain across Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. They also explore Iran's fast-moving meme and AI-driven propaganda campaigns reshaping online perceptions of the conflict.
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Southeast Asia Running Short On Fuel Reserves
- Southeast Asian countries face tight fuel reserves, with the Philippines down to about two months of gasoline and diesel and Singapore holding 20 to 50 days of supplies.
- Indra Overland notes Vietnam 30–45 days and Thailand about 61 days, while Indonesia and Malaysia are unclear because they produce significant oil and gas domestically.
Fuel Shortages Threaten Vietnam's Flights And Manufacturing
- Jet fuel shortages in Vietnam forced airlines to cut dozens of domestic flights, and international connections via Doha were canceled for some travelers.
- Dominic Scriven and Nguyen Chi Kung stress manufacturing and power resilience depend on hydropower, natural gas, and support from partners like China, Japan, Korea, and Russia.
Thai Delivery Rider Loses Income Waiting For Fuel
- At a Chiang Rai PTT station cars queued for gas and a delivery rider spends an hour daily waiting for fuel, cutting his earnings from about 1,800 baht to roughly 300 baht a day.
- Michael Sullivan observed about 80–90 cars waiting and heard the rider say rising prices left him lucky to clear $10 a day for a family of four.