During the 46th ASEAN Summit held in Malaysia, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto explicitly expressed his support for Papua New Guinea’s accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), underscoring Indonesia’s strong commitment to promoting regional unity and cooperation.
According to a written statement issued by Teddy Indra Wijaya, Secretary of the Indonesian Presidential Cabinet Secretariat, President Prabowo endorsed Papua New Guinea’s efforts to join ASEAN during the summit. He noted that as Indonesia’s eastern neighbor, Papua New Guinea’s membership would not only help maintain peace and stability in the region but also further strengthen ASEAN’s influence in global affairs.
ASEAN currently comprises 10 member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Timor-Leste holds observer status and is expected to become the 11th member in October 2025.
Teddy stated that President Prabowo emphasized the need to enhance regional solidarity, safeguard stability, and elevate ASEAN’s comprehensive influence on the international stage. He pointed out that by 2025, the total population of ASEAN countries is projected to approach 700 million—comparable to that of the entire European continent—making ASEAN a global force to be reckoned with.
“In this context, President Prabowo firmly believes that Papua New Guinea’s accession will expand ASEAN’s cooperation network and boost the region’s overall resilience and capacity to face challenges,” Teddy said.
Indonesia shares a land border with Papua New Guinea, and the two countries are geographically and culturally connected. President Prabowo views Papua New Guinea’s potential membership as aligned with the strategic trajectory of regional integration, bringing fresh momentum and vitality to ASEAN’s development and cooperation efforts.
“With Papua New Guinea joining, ASEAN’s strategic standing and voice on the global stage will be significantly elevated,” Teddy concluded.
