Indonesia President Says ASEAN Should View AUKUS Security Pact as Partner

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, wearing traditional Baduy outfit, delivers his annual State of the Nation Address ahead of the country's Independence Day, at the parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Aug. 16, 2021. Achmad Ibrahim/Pool via Reuters

Indonesia’s president said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should view the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) pact as a partner instead of a competitor to ensure peace in Asia.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who holds the presidency of the 10-member regional bloc this year, said that ASEAN is “open and inclusive” by nature and will not serve as “a proxy” to any nation.