ASEAN Summit Speech: Prabowo Highlights Energy Resilience Amid Middle East Turmoil as an Urgent Issue
President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, highlighted the issue of energy resilience as a primary and urgent challenge that must be addressed collectively. According to President Prabowo, escalating global pressures and geopolitical instability in the Middle East have elevated energy concerns from a long-term challenge to an immediate necessity requiring prompt response.
This was expressed by Prabowo in his speech while attending the Special Summit of the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), which formed part of the 48th ASEAN Summit series in Cebu, Philippines, on Thursday, 7 May 2026.
“Energy resilience is one of the key issues we face today. With rising global pressures and instability in the Middle East, this is no longer a long-term problem but an urgent one,” stated Prabowo.
The Head of State noted that the BIMP-EAGA region holds significant potential for renewable energy development, ranging from hydropower, solar power, wind power, to fertile lands that have yet to be optimally utilised.
He questioned the readiness of member countries to harness this potential to meet regional needs while supporting ASEAN’s energy transition.
“The question is whether we are prepared to act on this potential. Not only to fulfil our subregional needs but also to contribute to ASEAN’s energy transition,” he said.
Furthermore, President Prabowo encouraged concrete steps to accelerate the development of clean energy in the region. Some highlighted measures include hydropower development in Borneo, expansion of solar energy projects in Palawan, and utilisation of wind energy in coastal areas.
President Prabowo also cited several initiatives currently underway in Indonesia to accelerate solar energy development.
“Our energy transition is progressing at full speed. We are building 100 GW of solar power. Together, let us enhance our energy infrastructure. BIMP-EAGA has great potential,” he remarked.
In addition to energy development, President Prabowo stressed the importance of strengthening subregional connectivity, including enhancing the capacity of the Trans Borneo Power Grid to enable more efficient energy distribution across the region. The President assessed that all these agendas require support in financing, technical expertise, and closer partnerships with regional development partners.