The 2023 ASEAN Summit will be held in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The strategic role of Indonesia’s chairmanship in this year’s ASEAN Summit has been eagerly awaited by the international community. Indonesia is considered to have the strength to be able to carry out balance in the ASEAN region so that it is often given the trust to be able to maintain the economic and political stability of Southeast Asian countries.
Indonesia itself has previously held the ASEAN chairmanship four times, namely in 1976, 1996, 2003, and finally in 2011. In each of these chairmanship periods, Indonesia had to face various challenges and problems in international politics that were not easy.
Of course, the challenges faced by Indonesia’s chairmanship are different in each period. For example, the challenges facing Indonesia’s chairmanship in 2011 are different from the challenges facing Indonesia’s chairmanship in 2023.
Tracing the long journey of Indonesia’s role in the ASEAN region, it can be observed in 2011, where Indonesia held the ASEAN chairmanship after the adoption of the ASEAN Charter in 2008, the adoption of Bali Concord III, and the escalation of the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.
Against this background and political situation, Indonesia’s chairmanship in 2011 has succeeded in carrying out an agenda to increase ASEAN’s confidence and coherence so that it can play a role and make a greater contribution to helping solve world problems. Indonesia has also succeeded in proving its diplomatic strategy to lead the search for a solution to the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s chairmanship for ASEAN in 2023 has quite complex international challenges and problems, both from a geopolitical and economic perspective. First, the challenge comes from big country competition, such as between the United States and China, as well as the United States and Russia.
This challenge is certainly not easy because these big countries have national interests with several ASEAN countries including Indonesia. On the other hand, Indonesia must also be able to bring ASEAN to have bargaining power over these big countries so that they don’t just follow the wishes of the superpower countries.
The national interests of ASEAN countries must also be considered so as not to get caught up in the pros and cons of international politics which are currently heating up with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Apart from that, the challenges came from the economic situation which was still in a state of recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic which then gave rise to various crises – economic, food, energy, to war. Apart from that, the Myanmar issue is again testing ASEAN’s capacity and effectiveness in overcoming internal problems.
The economic recovery of ASEAN countries became central when post-Covid-19 was protracted, a number of ASEAN countries experienced crises and economic shocks which were the impact of the global crisis that occurred in several countries in this part of the world, including ASEAN.
These challenges certainly have the potential to threaten regional stability, weaken centrality, and threaten ASEAN’s relevance as an actor playing a role in shaping the order in the Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific regions.
For this reason, Indonesia’s chairmanship in 2023 which carries the theme ASEAN Matters : Epicentrum of Growth is becoming increasingly relevant in becoming the foundation for regional stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, by becoming a facilitator making ASEAN relevant and important, not only for the Indonesian people, but also for the people of ASEAN and people outside ASEAN.
This is done by strengthening ASEAN’s readiness in facing current and future challenges and facing ASEAN 2045, besides that by prioritizing dialogue on Human Rights (HAM), preventing trafficking in persons through strengthening ASEAN cooperation.
On the other hand, it is also important that efforts to encourage strong and sustainable inclusive, just economic growth lead to efforts to develop the ASEAN region as a growth center, with a focus on aspects of developing a health architecture, strengthening food security, energy security by supporting the transition from fossil energy to clean and renewable energy and strengthening financial stability to ensure economic resilience.
This is intended to show the determination of Indonesia’s leadership in realizing ASEAN as a center of growth considering that economic growth in the ASEAN region always grows higher than other countries outside ASEAN.
With the theme raised, Indonesia is determined to direct ASEAN cooperation this year in order to continue and strengthen ASEAN’s relevance in responding to regional and global challenges, as well as strengthen ASEAN’s position as a center for regional economic growth for the prosperity of all ASEAN people. In addition, with this theme, Indonesia also wants ASEAN to play a central role so that it can become a motor and contribute to regional stability and peace, including the Indo-Pacific.
For the local community, especially the residents of Labuan Bajo, fully supporting the 2023 ASEAN Summit will be very beneficial, from an economic and tourism standpoint.
Suwandy, Head of Warloka Village, Labuan Bajo, stated that what the government had done for the community was good, and he hoped that the community could maintain and preserve it. The Labuan Bajo region hosting the 2023 ASEAN Summit is an extraordinary thing, and an opportunity to gain more prominence.
In a sense, the people of Labuan Bajo support the ASEAN Summit because it is very beneficial for them, and the region will be increasingly recognized by Southeast Asians and the rest of the world. International journalists will come to cover, amazed by the natural beauty of Labuan Bajo.
Labuan Bajo tourism is also increasingly famous, and tourist visits will increase the income of local entrepreneurs there. After 3 years of the pandemic, now is the time to fill up hotel occupancy again, both from Summit participants and foreign tourists who want to take a vacation and enjoy NTT’s natural beauty.
*) The author is an Observer (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) PERBARA Institute
