President Prabowo Subianto has explained the reasons for his frequent\noverseas trips while leading Indonesia. He stated that these visits are\nto maintain good relations with all countries for the benefit of the\npeople, including job opportunities.<\/p>\n
Prabowo initially explained Indonesia\u2019s strategic position on the\nglobal stage. In addition to being the fourth most populous country in\nthe world, Indonesia possesses abundant natural resources.<\/p>\n
According to him, for hundreds of years, the Nusantara region has\nbeen an important trade route connecting various areas, from Asia to\nAfrica. This condition has made Indonesia a frequent target for major\npowers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndonesia had a lot of timber back then. So they all came to\nIndonesia to the island clusters at that time. They went to the eastern\nislands, taking our good timber. The superpowers at that time were\nSpain, Portugal, France, the Netherlands, England. They all came here.\nSo we\u2019ve always been a target, even a coveted one, because of our\nwealth,\u201d said Prabowo in a discussion with journalists and observers\nbroadcast on the Prabowo Subianto YouTube channel on Sunday\n(22\/3\/2026).<\/p>\n
In the current context, Prabowo believes Indonesia needs to maintain\ngood relations with many countries. He mentioned Indonesia\u2019s membership\nin various international forums such as ASEAN, G20, and OIC, which\nrequire the active presence of the country\u2019s leader at various global\nmeetings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, in the end, we must have good relations with many countries.\nWe\u2019re members of ASEAN, right? Asia has 10 countries, now 11. But we\u2019re\nalso what? Members of the G20, 20 countries. Then what else are we?\nMembers of the OIC. Then we join many others. Well, if we\u2019re invited and\nwe don\u2019t come, it\u2019s not good, right?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Therefore, he spoke about the importance of maintaining good\nrelations with all countries. Prabowo dismissed the notion that he likes\nto travel. He emphasised that the purpose of his visits is for the\npeople\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, that\u2019s why every Indonesian president is tired, people think I\nlike travelling there, and I also travel to protect my people, to\nprotect what? Job opportunities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Prabowo also stressed the importance of direct diplomacy at the\nleader level to accelerate strategic agreements. He gave the example of\nnegotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement or CEPA\nwith the European Union and Canada, which opens wider market access for\nIndonesian products. After 10 years, the agreement was finally completed\nduring his era.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I don\u2019t lobby, of course the ministers do the work. In the end, I\nhave to come. Right? To the King of Belgium, to the King of the\nNetherlands, to the European Union. Finally, we have smoother CEPA\ntrade. 10 years, you know. We broke through with Canada too, CEPA trade\nto open up. Now we have our goods at 0% to Canada, to the EU. What does\nthat mean? Our shoes, our textiles, which were previously threatened,\nnow we have a shift,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He added that in the current global situation, geopolitics has\nshifted to geo-economics. According to him, good relations between\ncountries are very important to avoid pressures while strengthening\nIndonesia\u2019s bargaining position.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo if your relations are not good, you get all kinds of pressure,\u201d\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, that\u2019s why I want to strengthen our economy through\ntransformation and so on. So that we can\u2019t be bullied,\u201d continued\nPrabowo.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prabowo-reveals-reasons-for-frequent-overseas-trips-1774263075", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }