Foreign Minister: Food and Energy Resilience in the Spotlight at ASEAN Summit
President Prabowo Subianto attended the series of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, on 7-8 May 2026. Foreign Minister Sugiono revealed that the main issues emerging in the conference, including in the plenary sessions and retreat also attended by Prabowo, were ASEAN’s collective response to the impacts of the global geopolitical situation.
According to Sugiono, the turmoil in West Asia has direct impacts on various countries in the Southeast Asian region. “The essence is first, ASEAN’s joint response in addressing the situation occurring in the Middle East, which everyone feels, has a direct effect on the lives of countries in the region. Especially in the economic sectors, particularly in the availability of food and energy,” said Sugiono in Cebu, Philippines, on Saturday, 9 May 2026, quoted from a video statement by the Presidential Secretariat.
Sugiono stated that the Southeast Asian leaders share the understanding that the region must become increasingly resilient in facing global uncertainties. Therefore, strengthening regional cooperation in the food and energy sectors became one of the main focuses of discussion at this conference.
“There is a growing shared awareness that with the current situation, a joint initiative is needed to make ASEAN a resilient region, particularly in the fields of energy and food,” he said.
This Gerindra Party General Secretary claimed that the agenda aligns with the priorities of the Prabowo Subianto administration regarding energy and food resilience. The Indonesian government stated it would accelerate various strategic programmes to support that goal.
“I think this is also something that has been a programme from the beginning of the government led by President Prabowo, where energy resilience and food resilience are the most fundamental things that must be fulfilled by a country, that must be fulfilled by our country,” said Sugiono.
President Prabowo Subianto attended the 48th ASEAN Summit in the Philippines for two days, from Thursday to Friday, 7-8 May 2026. In the plenary session held at Mactan Expo, Prabowo stated that ASEAN must become an anchor of regional stability amid increasing global geopolitical dynamics. According to the Head of State, the way to achieve this is through strengthening solidarity and cooperation between countries.
“We must set an example, we must truly commit to having a solid ASEAN that maintains peace, maintains stability, that values dialogue and collaboration,” said Prabowo on Friday, 8 May 2026, quoted from the Presidential Secretariat’s statement.