Editorial
Levering his unique background as a democratically elected former general, President Prabowo Subianto is uniquely positioned to break ASEAN's deadlock and rewrite history as Myanmar’s peacemaker.
Foreign Minister Sugiono (left) pays a courtesy call to Myanmar's junta leader Gen. Min Aung Hlaing (right) on June 8, 2026, marking the first high-level meeting between Jakarta and Naypyidaw since the military coup d'etat in 2021. (Courtesy of/Foreign Ministry)
President Prabowo Subianto has rightly decided to launch a new diplomatic initiative on Myanmar. As a retired Army general who was democratically elected in 2024, he holds strong credentials with the military chiefs in the neighboring Southeast Asian state.As de facto regional leader Indonesia cannot just stand by; it must help end the prolonged crisis the Myanmar people have endured and bring political and economic stability back to ASEAN.
Foreign Minister Sugiono’s meeting with Myanmar’s leader, Min Aung Hlaing, on June 8 was a good start for the expected shuttle diplomacy. This marked the first official visit of an Indonesian cabinet member to the war-torn country since Gen. Hlaing toppled the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.
