This statement sought to allay concerns about a possible decline in Indonesia's attention to the regional organization.
"ASEAN will remain the foundation of Indonesia's foreign policy," PCO spokesperson Philips Vermonte emphasized when met on the sidelines of a diplomatic discussion with the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He stated that Indonesia still has high confidence in the ASEAN institution, which plays a significant role and influence in the Southeast Asian region.
Therefore, during the recent armed conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, Indonesia fully entrusted the conflict resolution mechanism to Malaysia, the current ASEAN chairman.
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However, Vermonte acknowledged that Indonesia needs to increase cooperation with new partners amidst current geopolitical and geoeconomic dynamics, such as the conflict in Palestine, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the US trade war.
"In any organization, there are times when a member state may see another vehicle that suits its needs," said the PCO spokesperson, while stating that such maneuvering was normal among countries in international organizations.
He highlighted one of Indonesia's efforts to enhance cooperation with partners outside ASEAN includes the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA), which is expected to be completed and ready for signing in September 2025.
"With the I-EU CEPA, which has been under negotiation for years, the European Union suddenly sees an urgent need to sign it because they could face the same difficulties with, for example, US tariffs," he said.
Thus, Vermonte emphasized that ASEAN will remain a focus for Indonesia. However, in navigating the evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic situation, Indonesia will reach out to new partners outside the region.
Indonesia also continued to forge relationships with non-traditional partners to enhance cooperation more solidly, particularly to navigate recent issues, he said.
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Translator: Nabil Ihsan, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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