Prabowo employs "anabul" diplomacy, surprises President Lee
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto gave a surprise to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung through “anabul” (pet) diplomacy in the form of a gift for his pet dog, according to Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
In a statement in Jakarta on Thursday, Cabinet Secretary Teddy conveyed that the visit to South Korea was not only marked by official state agendas but also by warm moments reflecting personal closeness between leaders, with President Prabowo presenting several distinctive Indonesian gifts, including a unique surprise that left a lasting impression.
“Diplomacy is not just about meetings and official agendas, but about how personal relationships between leaders can be established and leave a good impression in the heart,” said Cabinet Secretary Teddy.
During the visit, President Prabowo presented several flagship handicrafts from Indonesian micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM), including a Balinese keris and a characteristic ceramic vase from East Java.
This presentation reflects Indonesia’s cultural richness while serving as a form of creative economic diplomacy that introduces local products to the international stage.
However, the most attention-grabbing moment occurred when President Prabowo gave an unexpected surprise. Prabowo gifted special clothing for South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s pet dog.
“President Prabowo also gave a cute surprise that successfully shocked President Lee: a gift of clothes for his pet dog!” revealed Cabinet Secretary Teddy.
This surprise became even more intriguing due to an unexpected name coincidence, he said. President Lee’s pet dog is named Bobby, the same as President Prabowo’s pet cat.
“The plot twist is that President Lee’s pet dog is also named Bobby! The power of anabul diplomacy is truly unmatched, isn’t it?” said Cabinet Secretary Teddy.
He stated that this moment proves that modern diplomacy is not only built through agreements and numbers but also through sincere personal touches.
President Prabowo’s humanistic approach is considered capable of building emotional closeness, while strengthening the foundation for future cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea.