Prabowo pointed out that before ASEAN was founded, tension was rife in the region, including Indonesia’s past conflicts with Malaysia and Singapore.

Though he did not specifically refer to any incidents, Indonesia was rigidly opposed to the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, which included Singapore and regions in Borneo. This era, which involved Indonesia launching armed offensives against the fledgling nations, lasted until 1966 and became known as Konfrontasi (confrontation). In March 1965, Indonesian operatives bombed MacDonald House in Singapore, driving a wedge between the two neighbors.

“But today, Southeast Asia is perhaps the most peaceful region in the world. We also have some of the best [economic] growth,” the minister told reporters on Thursday, on the sidelines of the final day of the three-day 43^rd ASEAN Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Prabowo is to chair the 2023 ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in November, which is expected to adopt a concept paper on the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) from a defense perspective.

Read also: Jokowi says ASEAN stands united, above all else

In this capacity, Prabowo has emerged as a strong proponent of ASEAN’s role in maintaining peace and stability in the region, and has strived on several occasions to maintain friendly relations with major powers while also remaining neutral, in line with Indonesia’s “free and active” foreign policy doctrine.

“We respect the United States, we respect China, we respect Russia. We respect India, Japan. We respect all nations,” he added.

Prabowo, who chairs the Gerindra Party and is the party's presumptive nominee for the 2024 election, made a surprise visit to the summit venue, reportedly at the invitation of Communications and Information Minister Budi Arie Setiadi.

He was later spotted among several other cabinet members accompanying President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to the opening ceremony of the East Asia Summit (EAS).

In his opening remarks, Jokowi urged EAS leaders to defuse tensions and to avoid creating new conflicts, tensions or wars.

Indonesia also called for countries to use the forum to build cooperation, not to sharpen rivalries.

Read also: ASEAN falls silent on South China Sea

Geopolitical tensions were palpable as some of ASEAN’s biggest partners attended this week’s regional forums to discuss cooperation and existing challenges while spotlighting ongoing global political and security concerns.

The Chinese and Japanese delegates, for instance, quarreled over Beijing’s sweeping ban on Japanese seafood following the contentious release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.

The China-US rivalry playing out in the Indo-Pacific and the divisive war in Ukraine have also colored the 2023 ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, which are bookended by the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg and the Group of 20 Summit in New Delhi.

Indonesia on Wednesday hosted the ASEAN-US Summit, which US Vice President Kamala Harris attended in place of President Joe Biden, who skipped the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta but is scheduled to attend the G20 New Delhi Summit later this week.

Asked about the US president’s absence, Prabowo suggested that Biden still cared about Indonesia, pointing to his attendance at Indonesia’s G20 Bali Summit last year.

“I think he [Biden] is very busy [as the leader] of a big country, but he cares a lot about us,” said Prabowo.

The minister surprised many recently when he secured procurement deals with the US for the F-15EX fighter jets and Blackhawk helicopters, underscoring Jakarta’s close defense ties with Washington. (tjs)

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