Prabowo to Travel to the Philippines to Attend ASEAN Summit
President Prabowo Subianto will travel to Cebu, Philippines, to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. The meeting of Southeast Asian heads of state will take place on Friday, 8 May 2026.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia announced Prabowo’s plans to depart for Cebu. “Tomorrow, God willing, the President will attend the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, with the Philippines as the host,” Bahlil stated, as quoted by Antara on Wednesday, 6 May 2026.
According to Bahlil, Prabowo will focus on at least two topics at this ASEAN Summit: food issues and energy issues.
Bahlil noted that one energy commodity of particular concern to Indonesia in the upcoming discussions is nickel. He stated that Indonesia is one of the Southeast Asian countries with an integrated nickel battery ecosystem from upstream to downstream.
Therefore, Bahlil said, Indonesia is open to nickel cooperation with ASEAN countries, including the Philippines. The General Chairman of the Golkar Party expressed readiness to receive nickel supplies from the Philippines for processing using smelters in Indonesia.
This ASEAN Summit adopts the theme “Navigating Our Future Together” and serves as a platform for ASEAN leaders to discuss the region’s direction amid global pressures. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said President Prabowo is scheduled to participate in several main agendas, including the plenary session and leaders’ retreat.
“The President of Indonesia is invited to attend several main agendas at this Summit, including the ASEAN Plenary and Retreat Session. The main focus of the Summit is to respond to the impacts of the Iran-United States conflict, energy and food resilience in Southeast Asia,” she stated during a media meeting at the Foreign Ministry office in Jakarta on Thursday, 30 April 2026.
Tensions between Iran and the United States are one of the main discussion points at the meeting. According to Yvonne, ASEAN leaders will emphasise discussions on a collective response to the impacts of that conflict, particularly on regional economic stability, energy, and security.
In the forum, Indonesia will also convey a message regarding the importance of maintaining regional solidarity. The government views unity and synergy among ASEAN countries as a crucial factor in facing increasingly complex geopolitical dynamics.
Prior to the heads-of-state Summit, ASEAN will hold several ministerial-level meetings on 7 May 2026. The agenda includes the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, ASEAN Political-Security Community Council Meeting, ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting, and ASEAN Joint Foreign and Economic Ministers’ Meeting.