Anies Baswedan: Dino Patti Djalal is No Accidental Diplomat
Former Governor of Jakarta, Anies Baswenan, has stated that former Deputy Foreign Minister Dino Patti Djalal is an experienced diplomat with a highly competent track record. Anies made these remarks after Djalal criticised the intensity and budget of President Prabowo Subianto’s overseas visits.
According to Anies, Djalal’s track record in the field of international relations spans several decades. “Dino Patti Djalal is not an accidental diplomat, nor is he an accidental official,” Anies wrote in a post on his X account on Tuesday, 2 May 2026.
Anies recalled Djalal’s career since his university days, recounting how he first heard of the young Indonesian diplomat during a BBC World debate against senior diplomat Ramos Horta, at a time when Indonesia was facing international pressure. “That young Indonesian diplomat performed brilliantly to maintain Indonesia’s dignity. That was the first time I heard his name,” Anies wrote.
Years later, while Anies was pursuing his doctoral programme in Chicago, he encountered Djalal again. At that time, Djalal explained the situation of the Indonesian diaspora following the 9/11 tragedy with an inimitable diplomatic composure. Furthermore, the 2024 presidential candidate praised Djalal’s initiative in organising the 2012 Indonesian Diaspora Congress and his founding of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI).
“He masters the substance, his track record is proven, and his leadership experience is vast. That is Dino. His diplomatic career is long and consistent, and his love for Indonesian foreign policy is profound,” said Anies.
Previously, Djalal highlighted the frequency of President Prabowo Subianto’s international travels, noting that during his presidency, Prabowo has spent one out of every six days abroad. Djalal remarked that such a diplomatic style is inefficient, stating, “Head-of-state visits abroad incur significant, even very large, costs,” in a video posted to his Instagram account, @dinopattidjalal.
Djalal’s criticism drew public attention after the government’s response was perceived as unaccommodating. One notable statement came from Cabinet Secretary Lieutenant Colonel TNI Teddy Indra Wijaya.
In a clarification video lasting 6 minutes and 44 seconds, Teddy stated that any excess costs for the President’s overseas visits beyond the state budget are fully covered by Prabowo’s personal funds. However, in that clarification, Teddy also alluded to Djalal’s tenure, noting he only served as Deputy Foreign Minister for three months. “Thank you for the input provided; it is very precise and structured. I believe he is a great diplomat, having served as Deputy Foreign Minister, although he was only given the opportunity for about 3 months,” Teddy said in a video uploaded to the @sekretariat.kabinet account on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.
This statement was met with widespread criticism. Netizens argued that Teddy’s emphasis on Djalal’s three-month tenure appeared to belittle the seasoned diplomat rather than addressing the substance of the criticism.