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Indonesia could again take a lead as ASEAN stands at a crossroads in the present era of protectionist policies and global disruption, but only if it sends a clear signal that it is not only willing to step up to the plate but also stay and captain all players on the field as a unified team.
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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) stands alongside President Prabowo Subianto at the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit on Oct. 26, 2025, during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur. (AFP/Pool/Chalinee Thirasupa)
T
he year’s second ASEAN Summit that concluded on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur presented Indonesia with an occasion for both achievement and caution.
On the one hand, the formal admission of Timor-Leste as its 11th member marks a milestone for the regional bloc, one that Indonesia has a special stake in by virtue of its long-standing support for the young nation’s accession to ASEAN.
On the other hand, the fact that President Prabowo Subianto cut short his summit attendance raises questions about Indonesia’s commitment and willingness to lead the bloc when it matters.
The inclusion of Timor-Leste into the ASEAN fold is no small matter. For years Jakarta backed its eastern neighbor’s accession bid, recognizing that full regional integration would serve not only Dili’s development but also the bloc’s strength and credibility in a time of global flux.
The expansion signals an ASEAN that is keen to refresh itself rather than stagnate in inward-looking paralysis.
It also offered Indonesia a chance to repay a past wrong: after a misguided chapter of brutal occupation that lasted just under a quarter century, the country’s stewardship of regional reconciliation included encouraging full membership for Timor-Leste.
But symbolic gestures are not enough: Timor-Leste’s accession must be matched by sustained effort on the part of both Indonesia and the region as a whole.
