Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - President of the Republic of Indonesia\nPrabowo Subianto delivered a serious emphasis on the urgency of\nstrengthening regional food resilience as a collective ASEAN step in\nfacing various global challenges. The firm statement was made during the\nplenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit held at Mactan Expo, Cebu,\nPhilippines.<\/p>\n
Quoting the official release from the Press, Media, and Information\nBureau of the Presidential Secretariat on Friday (8\/5\/2026), President\nPrabowo reminded Southeast Asian leaders of the region\u2019s crucial\ngeographical position. He warned that stability in strategic trade\nroutes must be maintained to ensure smooth inter-country logistics\ndistribution.<\/p>\n
Prabowo Subianto emphasised that regional maritime security is the\nprimary key to preventing future supply disruptions. He asked all ASEAN\nmembers to be vigilant against any potential disturbances that could\narise in their own territories.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must remember that our region has strategic trade routes passing\nthrough our waters, and we must be careful to avoid disruptions in our\nown territories,\u201d said President Prabowo.<\/p>\n
In addition to logistics route issues, the President also highlighted\nthe threat of extreme climate change looming over the world, including\nSoutheast Asia. He referred to warnings from various international\norganisations regarding natural phenomena that could cripple the\nagricultural sector.<\/p>\n
Prabowo Subianto assessed that the El Ni\u00f1o threat is no longer just a\nprediction, but a real risk right in front of us. This is what makes the\nissue of food availability for the people an extremely urgent agenda to\nbe resolved collectively.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been warned by international organisations about the very\nextreme El Ni\u00f1o risks lurking ahead of us. In this regard, food\nresilience becomes increasingly urgent,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
The Head of State opined that the food crisis is not a simple matter\nthat can be resolved by one country independently. He encouraged policy\nintegration, including simplifying bureaucracy in emergency rice\nreserves, strengthening agricultural technology, and optimising local\nfood reserves at the regional level.<\/p>\n
Prabowo called for ASEAN to act compactly in strengthening food\nreserve systems based on local wisdom. This cooperation is seen as the\nfoundation of Southeast Asia\u2019s bloc strength in difficult times.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not a challenge that can be handled by one country alone.\nASEAN must act together. This also requires simplification of the ASEAN\nPlus Three Emergency Rice Reserve. We must advance our Food Reserve\nbased on Local Reserves,\u201d said President Prabowo.<\/p>\n
Closing his statement, the President affirmed that food sovereignty\nis the main pillar of a country\u2019s sovereignty. The Indonesian Government\nexplicitly commits to holding full control over this vital sector to\nguarantee the stability and welfare of the people.<\/p>\n
Prabowo provided a philosophical analogy regarding the importance of\nfood in state life. He emphasised that without guaranteeing food\navailability for the people, the values of independence and peace in a\nnation would become hollow.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us, this is the primary responsibility of the government, and\nthe Indonesian Government is determined to bear full responsibility and\nfull sovereignty over this vital sector. Without food, essentially there\nis no society. Without food, there is no independence. Without food,\nthere is no peace,\u201d stressed President Prabowo.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prabowo-at-asean-summit-no-independence-without-food-sovereignty-1778241231", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }