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View all search resultsASEAN must brace for global crises, warns Prabowo
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Myanmar's Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs U Hau Khan Sum (from left), Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, Vietnam's Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet and Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone hold hands for a group photo during the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, central Philippines, on May 8, 2026. (AFP/Aaron Favila)
I
ndonesia has urged Southeast Asian nations to remain united amid mounting geopolitical shocks, cautioning against being drawn into major power rivalries and calling for stronger protection of regional waters as concerns over food and energy security deepen across ASEAN.
Speaking at the plenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines, President Prabowo Subianto said the crisis in the Middle East demonstrated “the futility of geopolitical ambitions”, warning that war and conflict only lead to destruction.
“It is very sad, but we must take this as lessons for ASEAN. We must not allow rivalries,” Prabowo told fellow ASEAN leaders.
“We will try our best to resolve the baggage of history. […] We must not be influenced by the currents of present geopolitical rivalries and egos,” he continued.
The President further warned the 11-member bloc to prepare for broader global repercussions, underscoring the need for ASEAN to strengthen both its collective political voice externally and its internal resilience, particularly in energy and food security.
Read also: ASEAN convenes under shadow of global oil shock
Disruptions to key global trade routes are unlikely to ease anytime soon, he cautioned, urging ASEAN to brace for “long-term disruption” through a more-forward looking approach including by accelerating energy diversification and developing alternative and renewable energy sources.
