House of Representatives: Prabowo's Overseas Visits are Based on Necessity

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), Saan Mustopa, has urged the public not to criticise or compare the frequency of state visits conducted by President Prabowo Subianto. He believes these visits are driven by the specific needs of the Head of State amidst the current dynamic global situation.

“The intensity of overseas visits for every head of state, in this case, the President, is certainly different. One cannot be compared to another regarding intensity,” Saan explained to reporters at the DPR Building on Wednesday. Parliament views Prabowo’s visits to several countries as a strategy to support the security of domestic needs, while also serving as a diplomatic effort to maintain good relations with other nations.

The high frequency of Prabowo’s international visits is also viewed by lawmakers as a necessity due to pressing circumstances. “The current situation requires the President to build more intensive and serious relationships because of both domestic and global dynamics, which are very high,” Saan stated. He emphasised that the visits should not be viewed as excessive, but rather as a response to urgent requirements.

At the beginning of his term, President Prabowo expressed his focus on driving domestic economic improvements in Indonesia. As part of his diplomatic agenda, President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to visit Washington D.C., United States, to mark the 75th anniversary of Indonesia-US relations. During these overseas visits, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka will perform presidential duties.

Notably, Prabowo’s recent diplomatic efforts have been highly productive, successfully securing investment commitments of USD 18.5 billion, equivalent to IDR 294.5 trillion, from his visits abroad over the past two weeks.