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Prabowo’s Papua New Guinea ASEAN membership pitch likely serves Jakarta’s interests
President Prabowo Subianto’s pitch to include Papua New Guinea as an ASEAN member during his debut appearance at the regional talks was likely inspired by Jakarta’s national interests and was less about elevating the group’s strength, analysts have suggested.
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President Prabowo Subianto attends the 46th ASEAN Summit on May 26, 2025, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center in Kuala Lumpur. (Reuters/Hasnoor Hussain)
P
resident Prabowo Subianto’s pitch to include Papua New Guinea as an ASEAN member during his debut appearance at the regional talks was likely inspired by Jakarta’s national interests and less about elevating the group’s strength, analysts have suggested.
On Monday at the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Prabowo, whose appearance marked his first in the high-level talks as president, floated the idea of including PNG as a member of the group after Timor-Leste, whose ascension process is currently ongoing.
With an expanded membership, ASEAN stands to rise stronger and could have better leverage with the world’s larger powers, Prabowo told the plenary session.
“We would like to propose the participation of a close neighbor of ours, that is Papua New Guinea,” Prabowo said. “I think in the current situation of geopolitical uncertainty, the stronger ASEAN is, the more we will be heard in the discourse of the great powers. We know now that only those with strength will be respected”.
Dili and Port Moresby’s inclusion in the group would “enhance ASEAN’s role in the world”, he said, arguing that if ASEAN wishes to “become relevant”, then it must “welcome deeper partnerships”.
Since the 1980s, PNG has been a permanent observer at the 10-nation grouping, which grants Port Moresby attendance to certain ASEAN meetings and engage in dialogue. But without full membership rights, PNG cannot participate in the group’s voting or decision-making process.
Read also: Prabowo backs Papua New Guinea’s ASEAN bid
