It is the second in a series of forums, with the inaugural Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific hosted in February by France, and comes as the EU looks to implementing its strategy in the region. The Prague dialogue discussed the challenges and potentials in the region, covering issues such as cooperation, defense, economy, connectivity and entrepreneurship.

Speaking to the press on Monday, Retno said she had suggested the three key ideas of inclusivity, rules-based order and concrete cooperation to build shared security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific amid the tumultuous global situation.

She also underlined that all countries must be consistent and unconditional in upholding the United Nations Charter that respected the sovereignty of each state.

The region’s political and economical architecture should be inclusive to all, Retno said, referring to the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, which offered “a similar paradigm for regions outside ASEAN”.

“We call for the principle of inclusivity and non-containment for all states that interacting within the Indo-Pacific,” Retno told a press briefing on Monday. “I have also emphasized that the formation of groups in the region must be building blocks [for] creating stability, peace, security and prosperity.”

She noted that “concrete cooperation” was also important for unifying all countries in the region, as it “represents the interests of all”.

“The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific offers concrete cooperation, specifically in maritime affairs, connectivity, the sustainable development agenda and economic collaboration, especially in trade and investment,” Retno said.

Indonesia-EU CEPA

The minister also underlined that ASEAN was not the only group paying special attention to the Indo-Pacific. The EU, for example, had adopted the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in September 2021, which she attributed as a reason for this year’s high-level dialogues in Paris and now in Prague.

Retno said that she had addressed her concerns regarding the EU’s "discrimination of Indonesian palm products" in her bilateral meeting with Czech President Miloš Zeman, as well as expressed her hopes for finalizing the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

The trade deal to facilitate and create new market access between the two aspiring partners has been in the works since 2020.

While in Prague, Retno also attended bilateral meetings that included the Indonesia-EU CEPA with her counterparts from the Czech Republic, Hungary and Lithuania.

'Symptom' of global distrust

Increased partnership and cooperation between states was essential, she emphasized, noting that the war in Ukraine had affected all regions of the world in many ways, including food security.

Retno said that developing countries were at the brunt end of the imminent food crisis and called for an “immediate solution, [including] restoring the global supply chain for Russian and Ukrainian food and fertilizer products”.

She added that she had told the Prague dialogue that the war in Ukraine was but a “symptom” of the larger problem faced by the world, which was caused by the “trust deficit” between states, the zero-sum paradigm as well as eroding trust in international laws.

“I have emphasized in the dialogue that peace and stability does not come out of thin air. Efforts must be made to manifest and propagate them,” Retno said.

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