PDIP Secretary General Suggests President Prabowo Emulate Soekarno's Approach to Resolving Global Conflicts

Hasto Kristiyanto, a permanent lecturer at Bung Karno University (UBK) and Secretary General of PDIP, emphasised the geopolitical thinking of Indonesia’s proclaimer Soekarno as an instrument for the direction of the country’s foreign diplomacy and defence. Hasto proposed that President Prabowo Subianto utilise this instrument. This was conveyed by Hasto while delivering a public lecture entitled ‘Bung Karno’s Geopolitical Thought’, held in the context of the 27th Anniversary of Bung Karno University, at the Ir. Soekarno Hall, UBK, Jakarta, on Thursday (11/6/2026). Hasto considers Bung Karno’s framework of thinking to be highly relevant if President Prabowo wishes to position Indonesia as a peace facilitator on the global stage. Hasto is optimistic that Indonesia can de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. ‘If President Prabowo intends to make Indonesia a peace facilitator for Middle East issues, this (Soekarno’s Geopolitical Cycle) can be used,’ said Hasto during the event. Hasto stated that Bung Karno’s geopolitical thought constitutes a systematic cycle. According to him, this cycle can be used to address various regional and global geopolitical dynamics in a measured way. First, the cycle begins by formulating a clear national interest. Second, it moves towards global engagement by building new international law through a foreign diplomacy approach and international cooperation. Third, it strengthens these aspects with defence diplomacy to build an effective deterrent effect. ‘This cycle keeps turning. We create international law with our diplomatic approach, build international cooperation, until finally strategic defence diplomacy strengthens our defence posture,’ said Hasto. According to Hasto, this geopolitical science-based approach can not only be applied in the Middle East, but also in helping to alleviate conflict on the Korean Peninsula and tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Hasto exemplified how Indonesia’s active involvement in de-escalating international tensions must still be based on national interest. ‘If we want to resolve the conflict on the Korean Peninsula, we can use this cycle. Through these diplomatic steps, our national interests are also benefited. For example, from South Korea we can obtain various technology transfers to accelerate our industry, while from North Korea we can build strategic understanding,’ said Hasto.