Dino Patti Djalal suggests Prabowo focus on strengthening ASEAN

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) Dino Patti Djalal has suggested that President Prabowo Subianto prioritise strengthening relations with Southeast Asian countries amid global geopolitical tensions.

The statement was made by Dino when met on the sidelines of the “Middle Power Conference” in Jakarta on Tuesday (14/4).

He was responding to President Prabowo’s visits to Russia and France amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

“As a middle power, especially as a regional power, a force in Southeast Asia, we must prioritise a situation where, even if there is war in Europe, or war in the Middle East, war in Africa, or even in South Asia—India-Pakistan is still hot—at least in Southeast Asia we are safe,” he said.

Dino also highlighted public perceptions that Prabowo is paying more attention to global powers than to the Southeast Asian region.

Nevertheless, he assessed that those foreign visits were not wrong.

However, he stressed the importance of greater attention to regional cooperation, particularly with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“The forum where we can control the region and the situation is Southeast Asia. And this is why, in my view, President Prabowo this year must focus more on tending to our ‘own backyard’ in Southeast Asia,” Dino stated.

He added that Indonesia does not need to chase the image of an “Asian tiger,” but should be more realistic as the main driver of ASEAN.

“We don’t need to be an Asian tiger; we need to be the engine of ASEAN. The Asian tiger is somewhat distant in terms of rhetoric, in my opinion. But the engine of ASEAN is very realistic,” he said.

Dino also called on the government to be more open about the president’s foreign travels to avoid speculation.

“We need to know where the president is going, so it doesn’t create speculation. So, my appeal to the government is that every time there is a foreign trip, provide a professional, protocol explanation. The schedule of where, and if possible who he will meet, and what the agenda is,” he said.

President Prabowo departed for Moscow, Russia, on Sunday evening to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The two countries agreed to enhance cooperation in the fields of economy, energy, space, agriculture, industry, and pharmaceuticals.

From Moscow, Prabowo continued his visit to Paris to meet French President Emmanuel Macron.