TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi said the newly-established military alliance known as AUKUS launched by the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom might bring impacts on Indonesian trade. Thus, he called on Southeast Asian countries to separate their trade affairs from political issues in dealing with the involved countries.

“I'm trying to separate political interests from trade interests,” Lutfi said in a press conference in Jakarta, Friday, September 17.

Australia, the U.S., and the U.K. officially announced their new security alliance in the Indo-Pacific. Under this pact, Australia will secure the technology to build eight nuclear-powered submarines under U.S auspices—a move later condemned by China, which is presently at odds with Australia.

Lutfi said the impacts on Indonesia could possibly occur if there was no dialogue between the involved countries since the alliance was built in the Indo-Pacific. For that, Indonesia has a task to ensure such dialogues.

“If there is no dialogue, there will be misunderstandings, which are the main ingredient of war,” said the former Indonesian Ambassador to the U.S.

In the meeting with ASEAN ministers a few days ago, Lutfi also called on Southeast Asian countries to exclude political affairs from trade. He asserted that trade is the best solution to improving the current economy and bringing benefits to many parties.

Read: United States, Indonesia Discuss Extending GSP Trade Preference Program

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