Germany aims to expand economic cooperation with Indonesia amidst global dynamics

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Germany is targeting significant potential to expand cooperation, particularly in the economic sector, with Indonesia amidst changes in the global geopolitical order that are prompting middle-power nations to adapt to a new strategic environment.

The German Ambassador to Indonesia, ASEAN, and Timor-Leste, Ralf Beste, stated that major powers are realigning their positions in response to Russia’s increasingly aggressive stance. This situation has led Germany to view cooperation with the Southeast Asian region as increasingly vital, especially with Indonesia.

“We see great potential, and perhaps the greatest potential for a country like Germany is to expand cooperation, particularly in the economic field, with Indonesia,” said Ambassador Beste when met at the 3rd ASEAN Think Tanks Summit at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on Monday.

Indonesia, he continued, specifically receives German attention because it is the largest nation in ASEAN and serves as the seat of the ASEAN Secretariat. According to him, this position grants Indonesia a crucial role in the region and makes it a country whose potential is continuously monitored by Germany.

“Indonesia is the largest country (in Southeast Asia). Indonesia is also the country where ASEAN is based, so it holds an important role and always will. Our attention is focused on Indonesia and its potential,” he said.

ASEAN as a whole is a very large trading partner for the European Union and remains one of the EU’s largest trading partners outside of Europe, he added.

Beyond economics, Germany considers the security aspects of the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia to be increasingly linked to European security interests.

“We see that the security of the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia is also very important for European security,” he noted.

In the field of trade, the European Union is currently focusing on a number of bilateral trade agreements with ASEAN member states. The EU is also in the process of completing the ratification of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA).

Beste noted that the prospects for a comprehensive ASEAN-EU free trade agreement are believed to still require time. Currently, the EU has several existing free trade agreements and is prioritising the completion of bilateral deals with ASEAN member states.

“Therefore, the prospects for other bilateral agreements may only open in the coming years,” he concluded.