President Prabowo Subianto ensured that the handling of various\ndomestic issues was proceeding well before carrying out his agenda of\nvisiting Russia some time ago. This step was taken amid a number of\ndomestic challenges, including natural disasters and forest and land\nfires (karhutla) in several regions.<\/p>\n
Muhammad Qodari, head of the government\u2019s Communication Agency\n(Bakom), said President Prabowo understood the various problems still\nfaced by the public, ranging from the prices of basic necessities and\nemployment to natural disasters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is why, before making visits abroad, President Prabowo always\nmakes sure first that all domestic issues have been properly handled,\u201d\nQodari said in a statement on Monday (7\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n
Qodari cited several instances of President Prabowo directly\nmonitoring disaster and karhutla responses before travelling overseas.\nOn 22 August 2026, Prabowo flew to West Kalimantan, where he held a\nlimited meeting with several ministers, agency heads and regional\ngovernment officials, and personally inspected karhutla handling to\nobtain an up-to-date picture of conditions on the ground.<\/p>\n
Prabowo then continued to Central Kalimantan to check on and lead the\nkarhutla response. Two days later, on 24 August 2026, the President\nvisited Riau and Palembang to chair meetings and ensure the karhutla\nresponse was proceeding.<\/p>\n
Not stopping there, on 26 August 2026 Prabowo also travelled to\nNagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), to see for himself the\nconditions of communities affected by the earthquake. The President also\nensured that post-disaster assistance and handling were running\nwell.<\/p>\n
According to Qodari, this series of engagements shows that domestic\nissues remained the President\u2019s priority, even as the government pursued\ndiplomacy at the international level.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government understands that the public often asks: what is the\ndirect benefit of the President\u2019s recent visit to Russia?\u201d Qodari\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He considered the question reasonable, given that the President\u2019s\nvisit to Russia took place whilst Indonesia was also facing a number of\ndomestic challenges, including the earthquake in NTT and karhutla in\nseveral provinces.<\/p>\n
However, Qodari stressed that the President\u2019s overseas agenda was\nalso directed towards advancing national interests and seeking\nopportunities that could bring benefits to the Indonesian people.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor President Prabowo, every overseas visit is always directed as\npart of efforts to find solutions, open up economic opportunities, and\nbring tangible benefits back to Indonesia,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Improving the welfare of the Indonesian people<\/p>\n
Qodari explained that the more economic opportunities opened through\ndiplomacy, the greater the potential for investment, job creation, the\nstrengthening of national industry, and Indonesia\u2019s economic\nresilience.<\/p>\n
This, he said, was reflected in Prabowo\u2019s visit to Russia and his\nattendance at the 11th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF). At the forum, the\nPresident invited global business players to invest and create added\nvalue in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Prabowo also urged Russia to double the value of bilateral trade\nshould the free trade cooperation between Indonesia and the Eurasian\nEconomic Union come into force.<\/p>\n
Beyond trade and investment, the President also pushed for stronger\nIndonesia-Russia cooperation in the food and energy sectors.<\/p>\n
That cooperation is aimed at strengthening national self-reliance\nwhilst improving Indonesia\u2019s capacity to face global uncertainty.<\/p>\n
Qodari stressed that handling domestic issues and foreign diplomacy\nare not two conflicting agendas. Rather, both are carried out\nsimultaneously to achieve the same goal: improving public welfare.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore, for Indonesia, addressing challenges at home and fighting\nfor national interests through diplomacy are not contradictory,\u201d Qodari\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth are tasks carried out simultaneously, complementing each other,\nand aimed at improving the welfare of the Indonesian people,\u201d he\ncontinued.<\/p>\n
He added that the Indonesian people must be the primary beneficiaries\nof every diplomatic step taken by the government.<\/p>\n
As such, President Prabowo\u2019s visit to Russia should be seen not\nmerely as a foreign affairs agenda, but also as part of the government\u2019s\nefforts to strengthen national interests, open economic opportunities,\nand build Indonesia\u2019s resilience amid global dynamics.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/qodari-prabowo-ensures-domestic-issues-are-handled-before-going-abroad-1788778466", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }