Gerindra: Prabowo's Foreign Visits Maintain Geopolitical Balance

Gerindra spokesperson Sugiat Santoso stated that claims of President Prabowo Subianto’s foreign trips being a budgetary waste represent a partial perspective from certain parties. He explained that President Prabowo’s visits are part of the Head of State’s strategy to strengthen diplomatic ties with friendly nations, such as converting Indonesia’s nickel commodity advantages and geopolitical standing into tangible investments and security safeguards before global opportunities close. ‘Indonesia is not merely visiting. President Prabowo is converting our nickel commodity strengths and geopolitical position into concrete investments and security fortifications before global opportunities shut,’ Sugiat stated in a statement on Thursday, 28 May 2026, in Jakarta. Sugiat explained President Prabowo’s free-and-active foreign policy paradigm is offensive diplomacy—a proactive strategy to build foreign relations in pursuit of national interests. He said offensive diplomacy is employed to respond to and anticipate crises, meaning President Prabowo takes the initiative to set agendas, forge alliances, and apply strategic pressure to ensure negotiations align with their objectives. ‘Prabowo acts before being dictated by other nations. He takes a firm stance in asserting sovereignty, political positions, and defending citizens in a measured manner,’ he said. The deputy chairman of the DPR’s XIII Commission noted President Prabowo visited three European countries in late May 2026: France, Austria, and Hungary. These nations hold strategic positions vital to Indonesia. Sugiat revealed France possesses the strongest military and technological capabilities in Western Europe, which does not sell advanced weaponry systems or strategic commitments solely based on the buyer’s financial capacity. ‘Gradual political closeness built through repeated visits is an absolute prerequisite for cooperation with Macron,’ he said. Meanwhile, Austria serves as the gateway to Central Europe’s precision manufacturing industry. He noted its core sectors include machinery, automotive, metal processing, chemicals, and food and beverages. Hungary, meanwhile, is a hub for aggressive electric vehicle battery gigafactory development within the EU (home to giants like Samsung SDI and CATL). He stated that entering Hungary secures Indonesia’s position in Europe’s future battery supply chain through the most open gateway.