DPR member says Prabowo's foreign trips safeguard geopolitical balance

Jakarta (ANTARA) - DPR Commission XIII Deputy Chair Sugiat Santoso said President Prabowo Subianto’s foreign visits aim to maintain geopolitical balance. He said assessments of the President’s foreign trips as budget wastefulness reflect a partial viewpoint from certain parties. “Indonesia is led by a patriot who knows precisely how to secure national interests abroad,” Sugiat said in a statement in Jakarta on Friday. He noted one of Prabowo’s agenda items is converting nickel commodity advantages and Indonesia’s geopolitical position into tangible investments and security fortresses before global opportunities close. “Indonesia is not merely visiting. President Prabowo is converting our nickel commodity advantages and geopolitical position into concrete investments and security bulwarks before this global window of opportunity closes,” he said. According to him, President Prabowo’s free and active foreign policy paradigm is offensive diplomacy – a proactive strategy for building international relations to advance national interests. Sugiat said offensive diplomacy is employed to respond to and anticipate crises. This means President Prabowo takes the initiative to set agendas, build alliances, and apply strategic pressure to ensure negotiations align with objectives. “Prabowo acts ahead of being dictated by other nations. He takes a firm stance in asserting sovereignty, political position, and safeguarding citizens measuredly,” he said. He said President Prabowo visited three European countries in late May 2026: France, Austria, and Hungary. He noted these nations hold strategic positions Indonesia requires. Sugiat also stressed that judging the President’s trips solely by flight costs reflects disproportionate thinking. According to him, the value of defence technology transfer, securing sovereignty in the North Natuna Sea, and Indonesia’s bargaining power as a regional power far outweighs operational travel costs. “The visit to France is a tangible demonstration of a dignified free and active foreign policy. Indonesia does not follow America, does not submit to China, and is not afraid of NATO pressure when engaging with Russia to secure affordable oil and LPG supplies for the people,” Sugiat said.