Kuala Lumpur, April 14 -- Amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, energy security is emerging as a critical concern for fast-growing Southeast Asian economies, including Vietnam, as they pursue green transition goals, said Ei Sun Oh, a senior fellow at the Pacific Research Centre of Malaysia.

Distant geopolitical disruptions are no longer abstract risks but direct challenges requiring flexible and sustainable policy responses, he told Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Malaysia.

According to the expert, instability in the Middle East presents two major challenges for regional economies. The first is heavy dependence on imported energy. Like many of its neighbours, Vietnam relies significantly on oil and gas supplies...