Cabinet Secretary Confirms Prabowo's Foreign Diplomacy Yields Concrete Results
Jakarta (ANTARA) — Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya has affirmed that the entire series of official visits undertaken by President Prabowo Subianto abroad over the past 1.5 years has yielded various concrete achievements serving Indonesia’s national interests.
“It would be a grave mistake to claim these were merely ceremonial or for appearances’ sake. We must examine what has actually been accomplished over the past 1.5 years,” Teddy stated, as reported by official Secretariat of Cabinet broadcasts in Jakarta on Monday.
Teddy outlined that one significant tangible outcome of this diplomacy has been Indonesia’s accession to BRICS, which has helped stabilise fuel reserves and maintained affordable subsidised fuel prices amid the global crisis. Additionally, Indonesia has secured zero-tariff access for exports to 25 European Union member states commencing in 2025.
Regarding the defence sector, Teddy cited that the government now possesses enhanced defence capabilities acquired through cooperation with various nations, including France, the United States, Russia, China, and the United Kingdom.
President Prabowo’s diplomatic initiatives have also benefited hajj pilgrimage operations, which have proceeded smoothly thanks to strategic cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including the establishment of dedicated accommodation facilities for Indonesian pilgrims.
Addressing criticism regarding cost efficiency, Teddy assured that all budget overruns from foreign visits are personally borne by President Prabowo Subianto. He further noted that the presidential delegation has been substantially reduced to a maximum of 50 to 60 personnel, significantly smaller than previous administrations.
Teddy emphasised that the scheduling of visits and bilateral meetings is determined based on urgent requirements and priority assessments established by the President and Foreign Minister. He called upon all parties to acknowledge the various diplomatic achievements successfully realised by the government.