Wed Sep 25 08:18:00 UTC 2024: ## Indonesia’s President-Elect Prabowo Subianto Signals Active Foreign Policy with Global Travels
**JAKARTA** – Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto has been actively engaging with world leaders through a series of international visits in the months leading up to his inauguration on October 20. He has visited over 20 countries, sparking speculation about his future foreign policy approach.
Analysts believe that these high-profile meetings underscore his desire to play a more active role in global affairs compared to his predecessor, Joko Widodo.
“Mr Prabowo wants to put forward his vision, and he is very firm in showing that he controls the (country’s) foreign policy,” stated Associate Professor Dinna Prapto Raharja, executive director of Synergy Policies think tank.
Although Mr. Subianto will not be attending the upcoming UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will represent Indonesia in his stead. This is in line with Mr. Widodo’s preference to focus on domestic affairs, a trend analysts expect to change under Mr. Subianto’s leadership.
Mr. Subianto, who served as Defense Minister before his election, has a background that makes him comfortable with global diplomacy. He was educated abroad, speaks multiple languages, and has longstanding relationships with foreign military leaders. He has already met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, signifying his intent to maintain ties with Russia.
His travels have included visits to key ASEAN countries, including Laos, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Analysts believe these visits signal his strategy to secure international support for his future endeavors.
“The countries he has visited are countries he considers can be a strategic partner in the future, and the relationship must be given priority,” explained Mr. Agung Surya from Bali’s Udayana University.
While Mr. Subianto has yet to visit the United States, analysts attribute this to the ongoing American presidential election and leadership transition. He is likely to visit after the new president takes office in January.
Mr. Subianto’s global travels signal a shift in Indonesian foreign policy towards more active engagement and a desire to be a respected player on the world stage. His plans to strengthen defense and economic cooperation with strategic partners, alongside his focus on global issues, suggest a more assertive foreign policy under his leadership.
First Piper 