STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT. President Jokowi said at the ASEAN-EU Summit in Brussels, Belgium, that the ASEAN and European Union must have equal relations, with a partnership without forcing views. “We all know that the key to successful cooperation is equality.
No country should dictate to other countries. No country should think that its standards are higher than other countries,” said Jokowi, representing Indonesia as the 2023 ASEAN Chair. Jokowi was one of six leaders invited to speak at the opening ceremony of the summit coinciding with the 45th anniversary of ASEAN-EU diplomatic relations.
The two major blocs of the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations held their first summit this week. Both regional groupings agreed to deepen economic ties as well as reaffirm the respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The leaders of the 27 EU countries and nine leaders of the 10-member ASEAN grouping held their first summit which also marked 45 years of diplomatic relations between the two regions. Only the military junta leaders of Myanmar were not included in the conference. Both blocs discussed areas of future cooperation such as trade, green and digital transitions, and health. The EU and ASEAN have also signed a deal to allow their airlines to expand their services easily. Both blocs also reaffirmed their commitment to a rules-based international order.
Asean members want a free-trade deal with Europe rather than handouts, and do not want to be a pawn in great-power rivalries, its leaders said in Brussels. After the first-ever leaders summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union concluded, the Asian side left complaining that talks concerning a bloc-to-bloc trade deal were no closer to being relaunched.
There is reluctance in Brussels about discussing such a pact with a group that includes a military junta in Myanmar. Instead, EU leaders said, it prefers to pursue “block by block” deals with individual Asean member states.
The economy tops President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s list of priorities as he heads to Belgium for the ASEAN-European Union Summit, a voyage that could see him leverage Southeast Asia’s growing clout in a contest of principles and pragmatism with the EU.
The trip, in commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the ASEAN-EU relationship, takes place as Jakarta is embroiled in a nickel ore dispute with Europe, alongside other trade disagreements. With Indonesia holding next year’s ASEAN chairmanship, analysts have suggested that Jokowi might make strategic moves to sway the disputes in Jakarta’s favor.
However, with multiple crises to address next year, largely brought on by the Russian war in Ukraine, Jokowi has made it clear that disagreements with the EU will not stand in the way of ongoing business and cooperation.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo met with King of the Belgians Philippe Leopold Louis Marie on the sidelines of the European Union – ASEAN Summit in Belgium. The bilateral meeting was held at the Castle of Laeken in Brussels.
During the meeting, Jokowi expressed his appreciation for the bilateral relations the two countries upheld for more than seven decades. He added that Belgium has been a crucial strategic partner for Indonesia. As part of the Committee of Good Offices, locally known as Komisi Tiga Negara, in 1949, Belgium take part in Indonesia’s independence in a monumental way.
The President asserted that Belgium was one of the first European countries that acknowledged Indonesia’s independence. Jokowi then personally invited King Philippe of Belgium to Indonesia as a gesture to strengthen bilateral ties in the future.
Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said that President Jokowi will participate in the European Union and ASEAN Summit in Belgian capital, Brussels, on Wednesday. This is the first commemorative summit held by EU and ASEAN members to mark 45 years of diplomatic relations between the two organizations.
Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi will accompany President Jokowi on his upcoming Europe visit. Faizasyah also clarified that he had not received any information regarding Indonesia’s special agenda at the summit.
Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said Indonesia’s main focus as ASEAN chair next year will be geopolitical and geoeconomic stability. Retno said Indonesia wants ASEAN to be the anchor and locomotive of Southeast Asia’s stability and peace. She emphasized the importance of Southeast Asia’s stability before delving into other issues.
According to Retno, Indonesia wants ASEAN to be relevant and important, so the theme for Indonesia’s ASEAN chairmanship next year was “ASEAN Matters.” Aside from stable geopolitics, Retno said Indonesia wished to maintain ASEAN’s economic growth.
Meanwhile, Raden Maisa, a lecturer in international relations at the University of Indonesia, said that Indonesia faced two distinct challenges during its tenure in ASEAN, including the accession of Timor-Leste, the South China Sea, as well as the economic downturn. According to Raden, it is still unclear what steps the Indonesian government will take to deal with a recession, especially now that Indonesia has been elected ASEAN chairman.
India and other countries should “respect” and follow ASEAN’s policy on Myanmar rather than adopting a “different” path, said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. In comments to The Hindu about India’s decision to engage the Myanmar military government that came to power in February 2021 after deposing the elected National Unity Government (NUG) and jailing thousands of leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi, Ms. Marsudi said that it could make the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) efforts towards democracy “less effective”.
Instead, she urged India and other countries to follow the ASEAN “five point consensus” that calls for an immediate end to violence in the country; dialogue among all parties; the appointment of a special envoy; humanitarian assistance by ASEAN; and the special envoy’s visit to Myanmar to meet with all parties.
