The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM), which took place on 4 February 2023, is the first meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers during Indonesia's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023. The AMM Retreat was previously preceded by the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) on 2 February 2023 and the 32nd ASEAN Coordinating Council on 3 February 2023.
In this series of meetings, several agendas were discussed, including the priorities of Indonesia's chairmanship and follow-up on the results of the 40th ASEAN Summit and the 41st ASEAN Summit during 2022 Cambodia's chairmanship. Established by the Bangkok Declaration in 1967, the AMM is responsible for ASEAN political-security cooperation and ASEAN relations with external parties within ASEAN. AMM issued a joint communiqué focusing on building an ASEAN Community on the three Community Pillars, ASEAN's external relations, and regional and international issues. The AMM also issued a statement on major regional and world developments that could affect ASEAN.
To carry out its functions, the AMM is assisted by the ASEAN SOM, which holds regular meetings about eight times a year. ASEAN SOM can also have a special session. It can provide considerations and recommendations to AMM for further consideration if necessary.
At the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi opened the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) on 9 May 2023. In her opening, Minister Retno emphasized that Indonesia's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023 raised the theme "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth" related to ASEAN Community Building. Indonesia encourages stronger ASEAN cooperation in responding to various regional and global challenges. Real challenges faced by ASEAN include geopolitical rivalries, the ongoing impact of pandemics and natural disasters, financial crises, energy crises, and food crises.
In addition, Indonesia is also trying to maintain stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific region through a collaborative paradigm approach. The AMM discussed several regional issues, such as one happening in Myanmar, to the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). According to Minister Retno, ASEAN needs to work harder than usual. Furthermore, the regional organization also needs more effective implementation.
In addition to the AOIP and the Myanmar issues, the issue of the Five Point Consensus (5PC) agreement was discussed the night before the 42nd ASEAN Summit, namely during the working dinner of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers. The nine ASEAN Foreign Ministers plus Timor Leste - who attended with observer status - also discussed updates on the accession of dialogue partners to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). All the issues discussed at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting were then recommended at the ASEAN Summit, which took place on 10-11 May 2023.
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