This is my, and I would assume, our first trip to Asia in the new tenure of the German “Bundestag” and for me as German Foreign minister. And it was very important for me to visit Indonesia on this trip.

Because Indonesia is a partner that Germany and Europe need more than ever in these days. In a world of great challenges. Your country, the country with the largest Muslim population in the world is a vibrant democracy which just celebrated 80 years of independence. Our congratulations once again!

It is a modern nation which combines a long history and rich cultural heritage with high tech and openness. Your new and beautiful embassy in Berlin and the amazing Indonesian Pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, which we visited yesterday, are visible examples of this.

Indonesia with a very dynamic economy is an engaged political player, both in its own region and increasingly on the world political stage.

A country that considers a thousand friends too few and a single enemy too many.

I have already had the honour to meet with Foreign Minister Sugiono today to discuss the global situation and our bilateral relationship, but above all to talk about how we want to deepen our partnership.

Because that’s what I am here for: to strengthen and to expand our bonds.

We, Indonesians and Germans, have a common goal:

To achieve freedom, security and prosperity through partnership with others.

We are meeting at a time when Europeans and Asians are facing a multitude of new challenges together:

From the eroding respect for international law to the imperialist rhetoric and actions of certain powers.

From military conflicts that are shutting down trade routes to state-sponsored disinformation campaigns.

From the risks stemming from technological innovation to the ever more dangerous effects of climate change.

I am convinced: Our joint answer to this must be an unwavering commitment to investing in our partnerships.

Because we are only strong, we are only able to move forward, if we stand together.

Germany and Indonesia, as well as the European Union and most of our partners across the Indo-Pacific, share similar challenges. But we also share many core values and objectives:

The commitment to upholding respect for international law.

The commitment to free and rules-based trade.

The commitment to peace, stability and territorial integrity.

The conviction that growth and prosperity can be achieved by cooperation.

This is the basis for our partnerships across the region.

Inspired by the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific, Germany and the EU are dedicated to foster reliable and mutually beneficial partnerships with the Indo-Pacific.

This is why Germany is strongly committed to the EU’s Global Gateway programme. Throughout the Indo-Pacific, the EU is investing in digital and infrastructure, electricity grids, ports, power plants and schools. Germany is proud to be the lead country in jointly upgrading Indonesia´s rail connectivity in the framework of the Surabaya Regional Railway Line.

And it is also why Germany is assuming greater international responsibility in security and defense policy. Why we are helping to strengthen the resilience of our partners. Examples include a German project to provide the Philippines and Malaysia with unarmed surveillance drones to increase capabilities and resilience on maritime security.

But it is also why we are engaged in the Just Energy Transition Partnership with Indonesia. Together, we are turning our shared commitment to decarbonization into tangible progress.

Because global challenges need collective action and reliable partnerships.

My hometown of Kiel is situated over 11,000 kilometres from Jakarta. And still, what happens in the Indo-Pacific has a direct impact on European security and vice versa:

China’s growing military assertiveness in the South China Sea not only threatens Asia’s security, but also undermines the international rules-based order as a whole. And – with essential trade routes running right through this area – it also constitutes an economic risk.

The same goes for the Taiwan Strait: Any escalation would have serious consequences for global security and prosperity – and directly affect German and European interests, too.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is not only an attack on the European peace order. It also affects Indo-Pacific security. Because the Russian war machine runs in part on North Korean troops and ammunition, as well as on China’s decisive economic support.

All of which serves to show that European and Indo-Pacific security are closely interlinked.

Germany and Indonesia believe that international law, freedom of navigation and sovereignty matter.

This is why we have expanded our strategic engagement in the Indo-Pacific. Since 2021, our armed forces have been conducting regular Indo-Pacific Deployments, with the goal of strengthening our defence ties and interoperability. Our engagement ranges from the multinational exercise Talisman Sabre in Australia to freedom-of-navigation missions in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.

And this is why, in 2022, Indonesia was instrumental in broadening our understanding of security during its G20 Presidency. Beyond military dimensions, Indonesia underlined the vulnerability of our ecosystems as a security threat.

There can be no security, and there can be no prosperity, where islands are sinking into the sea, where climate change is ravaging our planet.

Much like there can be no security where there are scarcities of food and energy.

Our stance on international law is principled.

And that means: we will raise issues of concern also with our Allies and closest friends.

My country’s commitment to Israel’s right to exist and to its security remains unwavering.

At the same time, Germany rejects any plans of annexation by the Israeli government, as well as the announcement to further expand illegal settlements in the West Bank that impede a negotiated two-state solution.

And we are deeply concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.

As Europe and the Indo-Pacific, our security is as intertwined as our prosperity.

Let me give you two examples:

When Russia blocked Ukrainian Black Sea ports and deprived the world of Ukrainian grain, this also resulted in food shortages in the Indo-Pacific region.

And when the pandemic brought assembly lines to a standstill all over the world, we realised that interrupted supply chains in Southeast Asia can lead to shortages of semiconductors in Europe.

Europe and the countries of the Indo-Pacific are both strong supporters of fair, international free trade.

But today, global trade is often politicised and weaponised.

Something we in Germany learned the hard way when in 2022, Russia tried to turn our dependence on its energy supplies into a geopolitical weapon.

This is why for us, as is the case for many other countries, it is vital today to identify critical economic dependencies, to strategically minimise existing risks and to diversify our trade relationships.

This is why we are committed to also deepening our economic partnership.

As I speak, the European Union is ambitiously negotiating free trade agreements, the majority of which are with countries in the Indo-Pacific.

The political agreement to finalise negotiations between the EU und Indonesia was a milestone, speeding up consensus on remaining questions.

We fully support the Commission’s plan to sign this important agreement as early as next month.

With a fair, ambitious and sustainable trade agreement, we will create highly needed business opportunities for both sides and diversify our supply chains – from renewable energies to digital innovation.

And we will signal our full commitment to fair, rules-based trade in times of global economic uncertainty.

Together, the EU and ASEAN represent two of the largest trading blocs in the world.

I am looking forward to meeting Dr Kao Kim Hourn, the Secretary General of ASEAN, tomorrow.

This year, we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference.

In 1955 the Cold War was accelerating, the colonial empires were breaking up and the new nations, which had regained their freedom, were seeking their role in the bipolar world.

Indonesia gave them a voice and a choice by organising the Conference.

Since then, the world has changed considerably – and not always for the better.

The world is becoming more multipolar, more fragmented and less predictable.

Long-held certainties are eroding.

I am convinced that in this new global picture, reliable partnerships are not just desirable – they are essential.

Essential to maintaining and achieving freedom, security and prosperity. For our countries and our regions. For our people.

Essential to strengthening global cooperation within the framework of established rules.

Essential to upholding our sovereignty and our ability to act independently.

In this new global picture, Germany needs partners like Indonesia.

Looking ahead, I am pleased that the next European Union–Indo-Pacific Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will take place this November.

This time, European and Asian countries will come together in Brussels to discuss the new global landscape.

Our goal will be to listen to each other, to understand our respective visions and to find common ground for our partnership.

This is the essence of diplomacy.

This is the path to freedom, security and prosperity.

Germany and the European Union are keen to further expand and intensify our cooperation.

Let’s face these challenging times together – as friends and reliable partners who understand and value each other.

In today's world, sadly, it might not be possible to only have friends. But my message to our Indonesian partners is this: you certainly have a close friend in Germany.

Thank you.