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Prabowo completes whirlwind tour of ASEAN countries ahead of inauguration
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Defense Minister and president-elect Prabowo Subianto gestures as he attends the annual State of the Nation Address at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta on Aug. 16, 2024. (Reuters/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/Pool)
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efense Minister and president-elect Prabowo Subianto has completed a high-profile diplomatic tour of five ASEAN nations a little over a month before his inauguration as the country’s new leader in October, a move seen by many as a way to bolster the country’s influence within the region amid rising tensions.
The tour started on Thursday in Brunei, where Prabowo met with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at the Nurul Iman royal palace in Bandar Seri Begawan with the aim of enhancing defense cooperation, including advancing military technology and arranging for Bruneian military personnel to study at the Indonesian Defense University.
“By sharing technology and expertise, we can develop defense systems that meet our needs,” Prabowo said at the meeting, as quoted in a press statement issued by his office.
The minister left for Vientiane on Thursday evening and met with Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone the following morning. Together, they discussed ways to improve bilateral ties and address tensions in ASEAN. Laos is serving as the bloc’s rotating chair this year, succeeding Indonesia’s 2023 chairmanship.
"We understand that Indonesia and Laos not only have bilateral relations but also a commitment to regional stability and security in the ASEAN community," Prabowo said on Friday.
Later on that day, the former Army general traveled to Cambodia to meet Prime Minister Hun Manet and his father, President of the Senate Hun Sen, where they highlighted collaborative efforts for ASEAN's welfare and development.
Read also: Prabowo may inspire Indonesia's bold diplomacy
