INTERNATIONAL – Ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, speculation is rife that the Indonesian delegation will be led by President-Elect Prabowo Subianto. As Defence Minister, Prabowo has visited 20 countries since winning the election last February, showing his great ambition in the field of international relations.
However, instead of Prabowo, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will represent Indonesia at the 79th UNGA general debate session on 28 September. This is in line with President Joko Widodo’s habit of leaving diplomacy to Retno, despite her occasional involvement in certain initiatives such as the Myanmar issue during her ASEAN chairmanship.
Prabowo, who will be inaugurated on 20 October, is expected to bring a different approach to diplomacy. According to Associate Professor Dinna Prapto Raharja from Synergy Policies, Prabowo wants to make Indonesia more active on the international stage and free from foreign interference. With his confident personality and extensive military experience, Prabowo is considered ready to lead foreign policy firmly.
Contrasting Leadership Styles of Jokowi and Prabowo
During Jokowi’s leadership, Indonesia hosted the G20 Summit in 2022 and the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023. However, Jokowi never attended the UNGA. Instead, Vice President Jusuf Kalla or Retno Marsudi were often sent to represent Indonesia.
In contrast, Prabowo has a different approach. His background as a former general and education abroad give him an edge in global diplomacy. He has studied in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the UK, and is proficient in several foreign languages such as English, German, Dutch, and French.
Global Diplomacy Before the Inauguration
As president-elect, Prabowo started his diplomatic journey by visiting strategic countries, including Russia, Japan, China and Malaysia. In Russia, he met President Vladimir Putin to discuss defence and energy cooperation. In ASEAN, he established close ties with Laos as the current ASEAN Chair and Malaysia as the next ASEAN Chair.
Read more: The S Iswaran Case: From Corruption Allegations to Guilty Plea
According to Agung Surya from Udayana University, these visits show Prabowo’s early efforts to build international support. Associate Professor Teuku Rezasyah added that good relations with these countries are important for future bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
US not yet on the agenda
Despite visiting many countries, Prabowo has yet to visit the United States. Analysts argue that this is due to the US’ focus on its upcoming presidential election in November. However, Prabowo has visited Japan, a key US ally in the geopolitical competition with China.
Associate Professor Dinna Prapto Raharja mentioned that Prabowo might visit the US after the new government in the country is formed in January. In the meantime, he is still prioritising political consolidation at home, given his position as Gerindra Party Chairman.
With his diplomatic moves, Prabowo has not only shown himself to be a leader who is ready to face global issues but also cemented Indonesia’s position as a key player in the international arena.
