In ASEAN Debut, Prabowo Stresses Unity and Power: "Those With Strength Will Be Respected"

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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto proposed that Papua New Guinea join ASEAN. During the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Prabowo emphasized the importance of strengthening this regional organization amid increasingly intense global power competition.

In his first address as President of Indonesia at the ASEAN forum on Monday, May 26, 2025, Prabowo Subianto proposed the inclusion of a neighboring country into the regional bloc.

Prabowo stated that ASEAN needs to expand its membership to face the current geopolitical uncertainties. In addition to fully supporting Timor-Leste's membership, expected to be realized this year, he also put forward Papua New Guinea as a new member candidate.

“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,” said Prabowo at the summit led by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, quoted from Antara.

"Also, we would like to propose the participation of a close neighbor of ours, that is, Papua New Guinea. They have expressed their desire also to join ASEAN," he continued.

President Prabowo underscored the importance of a united ASEAN amid global uncertainty, stressing that the bloc’s collective strength would amplify its influence on the international stage. He reminded member states that "only those who have strength will be respected."

He went on to highlight ASEAN’s significant yet often overlooked potential, citing the region’s population size, now comparable to that of the European Union, and its position as the fastest-growing economy in the world.

"This century is projected as the Asian century. Let us not always underestimate our strength and our power," he said.

Prabowo also took a moment to express sympathy for the victims of recent natural disasters in Myanmar and Thailand, and extended congratulations to Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on his re-election.

Reaffirming Indonesia’s commitment to regional cooperation, he voiced strong support for Malaysia's leadership of the summit, which is themed around "inclusivity and sustainability," and called on ASEAN to become more adaptive and focused on tangible outcomes to meet future challenges.

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