Independent Report – President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, has proposed and expressed his support for Papua New Guinea to become a member of ASEAN. This statement was conveyed by the Cabinet Secretary, Teddy Indra Wijaya, after accompanying Prabowo at the 46th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Monday, May 26, 2025. The proposal became one of the key points discussed by the leaders of ASEAN member countries during the summit.
The Cabinet Secretary explained that Prabowo views Papua New Guinea’s membership as a strategic step that can strengthen solidarity and stability within the Southeast Asian region. Prabowo also believes that Papua New Guinea’s inclusion will expand the network of cooperation in various fields. This aligns with ASEAN’s goal to increase its influence on the international stage, especially considering the combined population of ASEAN member states nearly matches that of Europe.
Currently, ASEAN consists of ten member countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. In addition, Timor Leste holds observer status and is scheduled to officially become the 11th member in October 2025. Within this context, the proposal for Papua New Guinea to join ASEAN reflects an effort to broaden the organization’s scope and strengthen its role as a powerful and influential regional body.
During the plenary session of the ASEAN Summit, which focused on future strategic steps, Prabowo emphasized the importance of reinforcing unity among member countries and maintaining regional stability. He highlighted that with an estimated population of around 700 million people by 2025, ASEAN holds significant potential as an economic and political force globally. Therefore, expanding ASEAN membership to include strategic neighboring countries like Papua New Guinea is a prudent move.
Geographically, Papua New Guinea directly borders eastern Indonesia. This location adds relevance to the proposal, as Papua New Guinea’s membership would reinforce bilateral relations and regional cooperation. Prabowo sees that with Papua New Guinea joining ASEAN. The organization will be stronger in maintaining regional stability, which has long been one of its priorities.
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Beyond strengthening stability, Papua New Guinea’s inclusion is expected to increase ASEAN’s influence on the global stage. Adding a new member will broaden the cooperation network in Southeast Asia. Opening opportunities for ASEAN to take a more active role in various international issues, including economic, security, and socio-cultural matters.
Prabowo also stressed that Papua New Guinea’s membership would not only benefit Southeast Asia but also enhance regional resilience in facing global challenges. A strengthened ASEAN, with new members, will be better equipped to navigate geopolitical dynamics and economic changes worldwide. Therefore, Indonesia’s support through Prabowo plays an important role in the process of expanding ASEAN’s membership.
The visit of Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, James Marape, to the Indonesian Ministry of Defense in July 2024 marked an important milestone in bilateral relations. During the visit, Prabowo, serving as Minister of Defense and President-elect. Welcomed the Papua New Guinea delegation and reaffirmed the commitment to bilateral cooperation. This visit also reflected Indonesia’s diplomatic efforts to support Papua New Guinea’s ASEAN membership.
Indonesia’s backing of Papua New Guinea in the ASEAN context reflects a regional vision that is inclusive and forward-looking. ASEAN is not only an organization focused on the interests of its ten founding countries but is continually evolving. And also open to neighboring countries that can strengthen the organization. This shows ASEAN’s flexibility and dynamic approach to addressing contemporary challenges and regional needs.
With its large population and growing economic strength, ASEAN is one of the important entities in the world. Strengthening ASEAN by including Papua New Guinea will open wider opportunities for cooperation, ranging from security, economy, to socio-cultural development. Prabowo believes this step will bring significant benefits to the region and strengthen ASEAN’s position globally.
In summary, Prabowo Subianto’s proposal and support for Papua New Guinea to join ASEAN reflects Indonesia’s strategic vision to enhance regional solidarity. By making Papua New Guinea part of ASEAN, it is hoped that regional stability will improve, resilience will strengthen. And also ASEAN’s global influence will increase. This also demonstrates Indonesia’s leadership in advancing ASEAN cooperation towards a more inclusive and competitive future.
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