Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono Emphasizes ASEAN's Readiness to Become a Consistent Partner in the Face of US Secretary of State Rubio

ASEAN-United States Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) in Manila. (Okta/Infomed/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono emphasized that ASEAN is ready to be a consistent partner, when mutually reinforcing partnerships are needed in the midst of global uncertainty.

Speaking at the ASEAN-United States Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila, Philippines, Wednesday (22/7), Foreign Minister Sugiono said ASEAN and the United States needed to strengthen cooperation that provided certainty for the public and business world, encouraged economic growth, and maintained regional stability.

"In the midst of global uncertainty, what is needed is a mutually reinforcing partnership. ASEAN is ready to be a consistent partner to strengthen security, maintain maritime stability, and improve shared prosperity," said Foreign Minister Sugiono.

The ASEAN-United States partnership, which has been forged since 1977, will enter its 50th anniversary in 2027.

Both parties have also increased the status of the cooperation relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since 2022.

As one of the largest investors and major trading partners of ASEAN, the ASEAN-US partnership should focus on more concrete economic cooperation.

The Uncle Sam's country is the second largest trading partner and foreign investment source for ASEAN, with total trade reaching 552.8 US dollars and investments of 28.56 billion US dollars in 2025.

"Our priority is clear, namely stable and predictable trade, strong supply chains, and increasingly wider market access, especially in the commodity and manufacturing sectors," said Foreign Minister Sugiono.

Meanwhile, cooperation with the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and the ASEAN-U.S. Center, especially in strategic sectors such as the digital economy, needs to be maximized, in line with the increasing digital connectivity which is increasingly strengthening relations between people.

"The progress of digital connectivity must be accompanied by efforts to build a safe and reliable digital space," he said.

In this meeting, Foreign Minister Sugiono also emphasized that online scams and cross-border cyber crimes are common challenges that require a collective response.

Regarding regional and global issues, Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasized the importance of upholding the principles of multilateralism and international law consistently as a foundation for conflict prevention and crisis management.

In addition, Indonesia in this meeting also reiterated its support for a just and sustainable peace for Palestine, as well as encouraging de-escalation and peaceful resolution of various conflicts through dialogue.