Prabowo at ASEAN Summit: No Independence Without Food Sovereignty

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto delivered a serious emphasis on the urgency of strengthening regional food resilience as a collective ASEAN step in facing various global challenges. The firm statement was made during the plenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit held at Mactan Expo, Cebu, Philippines.

Quoting the official release from the Press, Media, and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat on Friday (8/5/2026), President Prabowo reminded Southeast Asian leaders of the region’s crucial geographical position. He warned that stability in strategic trade routes must be maintained to ensure smooth inter-country logistics distribution.

Prabowo Subianto emphasised that regional maritime security is the primary key to preventing future supply disruptions. He asked all ASEAN members to be vigilant against any potential disturbances that could arise in their own territories.

“We must remember that our region has strategic trade routes passing through our waters, and we must be careful to avoid disruptions in our own territories,” said President Prabowo.

In addition to logistics route issues, the President also highlighted the threat of extreme climate change looming over the world, including Southeast Asia. He referred to warnings from various international organisations regarding natural phenomena that could cripple the agricultural sector.

Prabowo Subianto assessed that the El Niño threat is no longer just a prediction, but a real risk right in front of us. This is what makes the issue of food availability for the people an extremely urgent agenda to be resolved collectively.

“We have been warned by international organisations about the very extreme El Niño risks lurking ahead of us. In this regard, food resilience becomes increasingly urgent,” he stated.

The Head of State opined that the food crisis is not a simple matter that can be resolved by one country independently. He encouraged policy integration, including simplifying bureaucracy in emergency rice reserves, strengthening agricultural technology, and optimising local food reserves at the regional level.

Prabowo called for ASEAN to act compactly in strengthening food reserve systems based on local wisdom. This cooperation is seen as the foundation of Southeast Asia’s bloc strength in difficult times.

“This is not a challenge that can be handled by one country alone. ASEAN must act together. This also requires simplification of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve. We must advance our Food Reserve based on Local Reserves,” said President Prabowo.

Closing his statement, the President affirmed that food sovereignty is the main pillar of a country’s sovereignty. The Indonesian Government explicitly commits to holding full control over this vital sector to guarantee the stability and welfare of the people.

Prabowo provided a philosophical analogy regarding the importance of food in state life. He emphasised that without guaranteeing food availability for the people, the values of independence and peace in a nation would become hollow.

“For us, this is the primary responsibility of the government, and the Indonesian Government is determined to bear full responsibility and full sovereignty over this vital sector. Without food, essentially there is no society. Without food, there is no independence. Without food, there is no peace,” stressed President Prabowo.