Indonesia assumes leadership of ASEAN Committee in Washington

Indonesia has officially assumed the leadership of the ASEAN Committee in Washington, D.C. (ACW), a forum comprising ASEAN ambassadors in the United States. The transition of leadership took place on September 17, 2026, at the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington, D.C., where Cambodian Ambassador Koy Kuong handed over the chairmanship to the Indonesian Ambassador to the United States, Indroyono Soesilo.

Under Indonesian leadership, the ACW aims to strengthen collective diplomacy and coordinate the shared interests of Southeast Asian nations with the U.S. government, Congress, business sectors, and academic institutions. The committee’s scope extends beyond traditional politics and security to include trade, investment, digital economy, artificial intelligence, climate change, maritime security, and space technology.

Indonesia intends to use this chairmanship to reinforce the principle of ‘ASEAN centrality,’ ensuring Southeast Asia remains an active participant in building a peaceful, stable, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. Ambassador Soesilo stated that through this leadership, Indonesia conveys that Southeast Asia is prepared to be a strong, relevant, and constructive partner for the United States and the wider world.