Prabowo’s Foreign Policy: Diplomats Call for Experience & Consistency

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has drawn scrutiny over his hands-on approach to foreign policy, with concerns raised by former ambassadors about the potential impact on the nation’s diplomatic corps and established foreign policy positions. The criticism surfaced around the one-year mark of his presidency, as Prabowo has secured over US$112 billion in investment pledges, according to an opinion piece published in the Kompas newspaper on October 21, 2025. Yuddy Chrisnandi, who served as Indonesia’s ambassador to Ukraine from 2017 to 2021 and is a professor of political science at National University in Jakarta, argued that although Prabowo’s diplomatic efforts are yielding economic benefits, experienced diplomats are needed to translate pledges into tangible results. “The president, as the real foreign minister, needs to be supported … by experienced individuals with proven track records in leading diplomatic missions, so they can serve as dynamic counterparts in jointly formulating international diplomatic agendas with the president,” Chrisnandi wrote. The concerns extend to the perceived sidelining of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dino Patti Djalal, a former Indonesian ambassador to the United States, publicly criticized the current Foreign Minister, Sugiono, suggesting he is more focused on his duties as Secretary General of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra), the political party co-founded and chaired by Prabowo. In a December 21st Instagram post, Djalal likened the Foreign Ministry to a “Ferrari” capable of high performance, but requiring a “skilled and focused driver.” Responding to the criticisms, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Yvonne stated the ministry “respects these constructive inputs and consistently opens its doors to different points of view.” However, the ministry has not publicly addressed the specific concerns raised by Chrisnandi and Djalal. Experts note that Prabowo’s direct involvement has, at times, led to deviations from Indonesia’s traditional foreign policy stances. Following a November 2024 meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prabowo announced an agreement to jointly develop the maritime economy in overlapping areas of the South China Sea. This position drew attention as China’s expansive “nine-dash line” claim overlaps with Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone around the Natuna archipelago. While Indonesia does not claim any part of the South China Sea itself, the overlapping claims present a sensitive diplomatic issue. The shift in leadership style marks a departure from previous administrations. Prabowo opted to appoint a non-career diplomat as Foreign Minister, signaling a more centralized control over foreign policy decision-making. This approach has reportedly led to a decrease in reliance on the traditional roadmap developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Prabowo directly determining the agenda and destinations of diplomatic engagements. Communication with leaders in China and Russia has reportedly intensified under Prabowo’s leadership, while the Ministry has avoided language critical of Russia’s actions in Ukraine or China’s provocations towards Taiwan. Simultaneously, Prabowo has sought to maintain strong ties with the United States, increasing military cooperation with NATO allies France and Turkey. As of late January 2026, Prabowo is scheduled to attend a summit in Cairo, Egypt, focused on peace negotiations regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict and reconstruction efforts in Gaza, alongside U.S. President Donald Trump and other world leaders.