ASEAN Summit: Prabowo States Energy Diversification No Longer an Option Amid Middle East Turmoil

President Prabowo Subianto has warned of energy disruptions amid turmoil in the Middle East. Prabowo emphasised that accelerating energy diversification has become an urgent need for ASEAN countries.

This was stated by Prabowo during the plenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit at the Mactan Expo in Cebu, Philippines, on Friday (8/5/2026).

“Prolonged disruptions along major global routes have already placed immense pressure on our countries’ energy situations, and that pressure does not appear to be abating in the near future,” Prabowo said, quoted from the Presidential Palace Press Bureau.

Prabowo stressed that ASEAN must prepare for potential long-term disruptions. According to him, regional energy resilience cannot be built reactively but must be prepared proactively through a clear and forward-oriented approach.

“ASEAN must be ready to face long-term disruptions. Our resilience must be built proactively with a clear and future-oriented approach,” he asserted.

Prabowo reminded that energy diversification is no longer a choice but an urgent necessity. ASEAN countries, according to Prabowo, need to move faster in seeking alternative energy sources, expanding renewables, and strengthening preparedness for various global scenarios.

“Energy diversification is no longer a choice. This is very important, this is necessary. We must move faster. We must go through alternative sources and we must prepare renewable energy,” Prabowo continued.

At the forum, Prabowo conveyed that Indonesia has taken concrete steps to strengthen national energy resilience. These efforts include developing alternative and renewable energy sources, utilising bioenergy, increasing electric vehicle use, and building a large-scale solar power programme.

“We are developing alternatives, renewable energy, using bioenergy, also increasing the use of electric vehicles, and we are building a very ambitious 100-gigawatt solar energy programme that we want to complete in three years,” he explained.

Through these steps, Indonesia affirms its commitment to strengthening regional energy resilience while supporting the transition to a cleaner, more independent, and sustainable energy system. ASEAN is invited to strengthen cooperation in building a more robust regional energy architecture to face global dynamics.