Indonesia’s Disasters Do Not Wait Their Turn

On August 23, the head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Suharyanto, was in Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara, inspecting the national logistics post for the deadly Flores earthquake. Yet part of the operational update he gave that day concerned a crisis more than 1,000 kilometres away.

Southeast Asia’s Defence Partnerships Are Expanding Beyond Bilateral Alliances 

On August 30, the Philippines and US marked the 75th anniversary of their Mutual Defence Treaty (MDT), reaffirming an alliance that has evolved from a Cold War security pact into an expanded defence partnership. The relationship now covers military exercises, operational coordination, capability development, maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster response, while increasingly coupling the Philippines with wider regional security networks.

Indonesian President’s State of the Nation Address Turns Targets Into Achievements

On August 14, Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto’s 2026 addressed the country through a State of the Nation speech in anticipation of the Independence Day celebration on August 17. The message was simple, that after 21 months in office, his government claimed to be delivering results. He offered a long-list of numbers to support that message: 1,931 trillion Indonesian rupiah (109.7 billion US dollar) in investment, 5.61% economic growth, 121 “transformative” policies, 71,744 renovated schools and tens of millions reached by the flagship Free Nutritious Meals programme.