en.malanginspirasi.com – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto urged ASEAN member states 49th ASEAN Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to forge deeper self-reliance, solidarity, and a more assertive global voice, Sunday (15/11/2026).
He warned that mounting geopolitical headwinds require the regional bloc to translate its economic heft into tangible international clout.
Addressing the plenary session, Prabowo noted that as the association approaches its 60th anniversary, its 700 million citizens and combined $4 trillion economy must leverage their collective potential through closer cooperation.
“We have traveled a long way. However, future challenges demand that we become much stronger, more capable, more united, and more resilient,” Prabowo told regional leaders.
The Indonesian leader stressed that regional resilience must stem from domestic well-being, asserting that member states must first secure their own populations’ prosperity before projecting broader multilateral influence.
He placed food, energy, and water security at the forefront of regional priorities, highlighting the acute vulnerability of regional water supplies to both severe scarcity and devastating floods.
Highlighting Indonesia’s domestic milestones, Prabowo pointed to the successful nationwide rollout of the B50 biodiesel program and ongoing development of 100 gigawatts of solar capacity as steps toward cleaner energy and greater self-reliance, alongside continued investments in education, healthcare, and domestic industrial development.
Turning to regional commerce, he flagged the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) as a vital catalyst to unlock a $2 trillion digital economy by 2030, generating fresh opportunities for businesses and youth alike.
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In a strong gesture of regional inclusivity, Prabowo also voiced Indonesia’s firm backing for Timor-Leste’s bid to assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2029.
Beyond regional integration, Prabowo called on the bloc to project a unified front within international bodies and global governance.
“Our unity must also be translated into greater influence in shaping multilateral institutions and global decisions. ASEAN must work together,” Prabowo said.
In a concrete push for diplomatic solidarity, the Indonesian leader proposed strict mutual backing for international leadership bids.
“If one ASEAN member state becomes a candidate for a position in the United Nations or its affiliated organizations, all ASEAN members must support that candidate,” Prabowo said. “I think this is very important; it demonstrates that ASEAN is a cohesive regional power.”
Recalling the vision of ASEAN’s founders nearly six decades ago who deliberately chose cooperation over division and collaboration over conflict, Prabowo urged his counterparts to summon collective courage to drive more productive, results-oriented integration.
“Let us dare to build the strength to deliver more together and be determined to achieve better outcomes together,” he concluded.
