Prabowo Claims Indonesia Respected in ASEAN Due to Food Self-Sufficiency

President Prabowo Subianto claims that Indonesia is increasingly respected among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The reason, according to Prabowo, is food self-sufficiency.

Prabowo expressed this view during his visit to Gorontalo upon returning from the 48th ASEAN Summit in the Philippines. “We just returned from the Philippines attending the ASEAN Summit. We are highly respected because we now have food self-sufficiency,” said Prabowo, as broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat on Saturday, 9 May 2026.

Prabowo gave examples of several types of food that he claims have achieved self-sufficiency, including rice and corn. “We have achieved self-sufficiency in many areas. We no longer need to import food from abroad,” stated the Chairman of the Gerindra Party.

The former defence minister stated that the Indonesian nation must stand on its own feet. Therefore, he wants his government to achieve food self-sufficiency and energy self-sufficiency.

Before going to Gorontalo, Prabowo first stopped at Miangas Island. Prabowo visited Miangas after attending the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines.

Miangas is the island closest to the Indonesia-Philippines border. It is located in the Talaud Islands Regency, North Sulawesi. Prabowo landed at Miangas Airport on Saturday, 9 May 2026, around 10:45 WITA. The Chairman of the Gerindra Party was accompanied by Foreign Minister Sugiono and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

Prabowo arrived in Miangas via a direct flight from the Philippines. “He returned to the homeland today, but before going to Jakarta, he stopped first for some agendas there (Miangas),” said Sugiono, as broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat on Saturday.