Thailand's PM Anutin: ASEAN at a Crossroads, Must Strengthen Integration

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has stated that ASEAN is at a crossroads, where the choices made today will determine whether the Southeast Asian organisation can continue to shape its own future while maintaining its role as a trusted and constructive force at both the regional and global levels. The statement was made during his maiden visit to the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on Tuesday, as part of a two-day working visit to Indonesia from 3-4 August 2026. “I believe ASEAN is now at a crossroads. The choices we make today will determine whether ASEAN can continue to shape its own future and remain a trusted and constructive force, both regionally and globally,” he said. Anutin noted that ASEAN currently faces a vastly different global landscape compared to when the organisation was founded in 1967. At that time, he said, Southeast Asia was a region marked by conflict, mistrust, and rivalry. However, ASEAN’s founders chose unity, believing that peace begins when dialogue is prioritised over division and cooperation over confrontation. As ASEAN approaches its 59th year, Anutin said the pressures it faces are increasingly complex because various challenges are now interconnected and directly impact the economy and the lives of people in the region. He noted that strategic competition between nations now affects trade, investment, technological development, and global supply chains. Additionally, conflicts in various regions, including the Middle East, have the potential to disrupt energy supplies and drive up costs across the region. The Thai Prime Minister also highlighted the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI). He said that while AI can be a driver of economic growth, it also enables criminal networks to operate faster and across borders. “All of these are regional challenges that require regional answers,” he said. In facing these challenges, Anutin stressed that ASEAN must respond with confidence. He said the bloc needs to strengthen its internal foundations to withstand external pressures while maintaining the freedom to make strategic choices and diversify its options when engaging with the wider world. He said this must be achieved through deeper integration, stronger institutions, and broader partnerships. “That means deepening integration, strengthening institutions, and expanding partnerships,” he added. The visit by a Thai prime minister to the ASEAN Secretariat was the first since 2009. Prior to visiting the Secretariat, PM Anutin also attended and spoke at a Thailand-Indonesia business forum. Anutin arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta on Monday afternoon (3 August) for a two-day state visit to Indonesia. The official visit is Anutin’s first to Indonesia since officially taking office as Thailand’s 32nd prime minister in September 2025. It also marks the first visit by a Thai prime minister to Indonesia in 15 years.