Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Emphasizes that ASEAN Remains a Trusted and Reliable Partner as the World Becomes More Uncertain

JAKARTA - ASEAN remains a trusted and reliable partner as the world becomes more uncertain, said Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, supporting the expansion of partnerships as more and more countries want to become ASEAN partners.

Speaking at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting) which took place in Cebu, Philippines on Wednesday, which was attended by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and the ASEAN Secretary-General, Foreign Minister Sugiono encouraged closer ASEAN cooperation in responding to the impact of conflicts in the Middle East and facing various challenges in the region. today.

"In the midst of an increasingly uncertain world, ASEAN remains a trusted, stable, and reliable partner," said Foreign Minister Sugiono, launching the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' statement, Thursday (7/5).

Furthermore, it is said, the increasing number of countries that have joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) reflects the continued trust in ASEAN.

The Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the partnership forged by ASEAN with its dialogue partners must continue to be strengthened in order to achieve concrete and constructive results for issues of common interest.

For this reason, in order to expand the ASEAN partnership, the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs also conveyed Indonesia's support for Turkiye to immediately become an ASEAN dialogue partner.

During this AMM, Foreign Minister Sugiono also appreciated the initiative of the Philippine chairmanship in coordinating ASEAN's joint response to the current crisis.

Foreign Minister Sugiono also reiterated the importance of stability in Myanmar, as well as support for Timor-Leste as a new member of ASEAN.

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held as part of the 48th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Philippines with the theme "Navigating Our Future, Together" with a focus on discussing ASEAN's response to the ongoing situation in the Middle East.

Foreign Minister Sugiono will accompany the President of the Republic of Indonesia in the ASEAN Summit which will take place on May 8, 2026. Throughout the series of meetings, Indonesia will continue to encourage ASEAN unity and centrality in building regional resilience and ensuring food and energy security.