Since assuming the Presidency in November 2024, Prabowo Subianto has\ndemonstrated a very high intensity of diplomacy. The President is\nrecorded to have undertaken 56 overseas trips, covering 28\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Several countries have been visited repeatedly due to urgent\nstrategic interests. Malaysia was visited five times, the United Arab\nEmirates, France, and Russia four times, while the United States, the\nUnited Kingdom, and Egypt were each visited three times. China, South\nKorea, Japan, Jordan, and India were included in the list of repeat\nvisits with a frequency of twice. Of the entire agenda, eleven visits\nwere multilateral, while the remainder were bilateral visits with\nspecific and targeted objectives.<\/p>\n
This intensity raises fundamental questions regarding the direction\nand effectiveness of the foreign policy strategy currently being\nimplemented. Does this high frequency reflect a productive active\ndiplomacy, or is it instead a symbol of an overly broad approach lacking\nclear priorities? In an increasingly multipolar global context, such a\nstrategy appears relevant, yet it still leaves significant room for\ncritical scrutiny.<\/p>\n
The most recent visit, from 11\u201314 September 2026, to India to attend\nthe 18th BRICS Summit, reaffirmed Indonesia\u2019s strategic plan to achieve\nnational independence, particularly in food and energy. These two topics\nare consistently presented by Prabowo in every meeting with other world\nleaders, alongside Indonesia\u2019s free and active foreign policy and global\ncooperation.<\/p>\n
Previously, on 1 September 2026, he visited Vladivostok, Russia, to\nattend the 11th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), marking his fourth visit\nto the country. This latest trip to Vladivostok was intended to\nstrengthen Indonesia\u2019s economic diplomacy and establish energy\ncooperation. During a previous visit to Moscow on 12 April 2026,\ndiscussions focused on geopolitics and energy security amidst the\nimpacts of the Israel-USA vs Iran conflict. This visit serves as a\nconcrete example of how Prabowo is attempting to play a role in global\ngeopolitical dynamics.<\/p>\n
In a situation where Middle East tensions trigger disruptions in the\nglobal energy supply chain, Indonesia\u2019s move to explore cooperation with\nRussia, including strengthening its position within BRICS, can be\nunderstood as an effort to secure domestic needs. However, this step\nalso opens the potential for diplomatic pressure from the United States\nand Western nations that hold different positions regarding Russia.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has adhered to the principle of a free and active foreign\npolicy from the outset. However, in practice, this principle cannot\nmerely serve as a normative slogan. Foreign policy must be capable of\nproviding tangible benefits for domestic interests.<\/p>\n
In this context, Prabron\u2019s policy to join the Board of Peace (BoP) on\n26 January 2026 can be understood. The forum was established with the\naim of promoting peace between Palestine and Israel.<\/p>\n
The decision to join the BoP triggered diverse reactions\ndomestically, ranging from support to sharp criticism. Some parties view\nthe decision as a risk to the consistency of Indonesia\u2019s long-standing\nposition supporting Palestinian independence. Foreign policy is always\nintertwined with domestic perception, political legitimacy, and the\nideological sensitivities of the community.<\/p>\n
Prabowo appears to realise this, subsequently inviting religious\nfigures to provide explanations and build mutual understanding. This\nstep successfully mitigated some criticism, although it did not entirely\neliminate the debate. Unfortunately, before the BoP could take any\naction regarding Gaza, the USA and Israel attacked Iran, a conflict that\nshows no signs of ending. Consequently, the BoP\u2019s momentum dissipated\nbefore it could develop.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the visit to Russia also reveals a pragmatic\ndimension in foreign policy. As one of the world\u2019s largest energy\nproducers, Russia is a partner that is difficult to ignore, especially\nas the United States has begun to ease restrictions on Russian oil.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, this pragmatic approach is not without complex\ngeopolitical risks. As Indonesia moves closer to Russia and BRICS, it\nmust simultaneously maintain relations with the USA and Western nations\nthat have differing interests.<\/p>\n
This is where the primary challenge of the \u2018rowing between two reefs\u2019\nstrategy becomes evident. This metaphor accurately describes Indonesia\u2019s\nforeign policy.<\/p>\n
Prabowo appears to adopt a simple yet ambitious principle in\nconducting international diplomacy. He often conveys that \u2018one enemy is\ntoo many and a thousand friends are still not enough.\u2019 This principle\nreflects a desire to embrace as many partners as possible without\ncreating unnecessary conflict. Domestically, a similar approach has been\napplied through the formation of a large coalition involving various\npolitical parties.<\/p>\n
However, a major question arises when this principle is applied to\ninternational relations. Unlike domestic politics, relations between\nnations are not determined solely by pragmatic interests. There are\nfactors of ideology, history, and strategic alliances. Great powers have\ninterests that often conflict, making it difficult for a single nation\nto stand on all sides simultaneously without facing pressure.<\/p>\n
Thus, Indonesia\u2019s efforts to maintain good relations with all parties\nmust be balanced with clear priorities and consistency in stance. For\ninstance, relations with the United States cannot be separated from\nsignificant economic and security aspects. On the other hand, relations\nwith China are vital in the context of investment and trade, while\ncooperation with Russia opens opportunities in the energy and defence\nsectors.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prabowos-strategy-in-navigating-foreign-policy-1789552847", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }