TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto is set to travel to Cebu, the Philippines, to attend the upcoming ASEAN high-level conference, where regional leaders will gather to discuss pressing geopolitical and economic challenges. The summit of Southeast Asian heads of state is scheduled for Friday, May 8, 2026.
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister of Indonesia Bahlil Lahadalia confirmed Prabowo’s attendance, noting that the Philippines is hosting this year’s meeting.
“Tomorrow, God willing, the President will attend the ASEAN high-level conference in the Philippines,” Bahlil said, as quoted by Antara News Agency on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
According to Bahlil, Indonesia will focus on two key issues at the summit: food and energy security. One of the main energy commodities expected to feature in discussions is nickel, a critical component in battery production.
Indonesia, he said, has developed an integrated nickel industry spanning upstream mining to downstream processing.
Indonesia is therefore open to expanding cooperation with fellow ASEAN members, including the Philippines, particularly in the nickel sector. Bahlil said Indonesia is ready to receive nickel supplies from the Philippines for processing in domestic smelters, as part of efforts to strengthen regional supply chains.
This year’s ASEAN summit carries the theme “Navigating Our Future Together,” providing a platform for leaders to address the region’s trajectory amid mounting global pressures. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said Prabowo is scheduled to take part in key sessions, including the ASEAN Plenary and Retreat.
“The President of Indonesia has been invited to participate in several main agendas, including the ASEAN Plenary and Retreat Session,” Yvonne said during a media briefing in Jakarta on April 30.
She added that discussions will also address the impact of tensions between Iran and the United States, as well as broader concerns over energy and food security in Southeast Asia.
According to Yvonne, ASEAN leaders are expected to seek a collective response to the geopolitical tensions, particularly their implications for regional economic stability, energy supply, and security.
Indonesia will also emphasize the importance of regional solidarity, viewing unity and coordination among ASEAN members as essential in navigating increasingly complex global dynamics.
Ahead of the leaders’ summit, ASEAN will convene a series of ministerial meetings on May 7, including the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN Political-Security Community Council, the ASEAN Coordinating Council, and the Joint Foreign and Economic Ministers’ Meeting.
