Qodari: Prabowo Ensures Domestic Issues Are Handled Before Going Abroad
President Prabowo Subianto ensured that the handling of various domestic issues was proceeding well before carrying out his agenda of visiting Russia some time ago. This step was taken amid a number of domestic challenges, including natural disasters and forest and land fires (karhutla) in several regions.
Muhammad Qodari, head of the government’s Communication Agency (Bakom), said President Prabowo understood the various problems still faced by the public, ranging from the prices of basic necessities and employment to natural disasters.
“That is why, before making visits abroad, President Prabowo always makes sure first that all domestic issues have been properly handled,” Qodari said in a statement on Monday (7/9/2026).
Qodari cited several instances of President Prabowo directly monitoring disaster and karhutla responses before travelling overseas. On 22 August 2026, Prabowo flew to West Kalimantan, where he held a limited meeting with several ministers, agency heads and regional government officials, and personally inspected karhutla handling to obtain an up-to-date picture of conditions on the ground.
Prabowo then continued to Central Kalimantan to check on and lead the karhutla response. Two days later, on 24 August 2026, the President visited Riau and Palembang to chair meetings and ensure the karhutla response was proceeding.
Not stopping there, on 26 August 2026 Prabowo also travelled to Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), to see for himself the conditions of communities affected by the earthquake. The President also ensured that post-disaster assistance and handling were running well.
According to Qodari, this series of engagements shows that domestic issues remained the President’s priority, even as the government pursued diplomacy at the international level.
“The government understands that the public often asks: what is the direct benefit of the President’s recent visit to Russia?” Qodari said.
He considered the question reasonable, given that the President’s visit to Russia took place whilst Indonesia was also facing a number of domestic challenges, including the earthquake in NTT and karhutla in several provinces.
However, Qodari stressed that the President’s overseas agenda was also directed towards advancing national interests and seeking opportunities that could bring benefits to the Indonesian people.
“For President Prabowo, every overseas visit is always directed as part of efforts to find solutions, open up economic opportunities, and bring tangible benefits back to Indonesia,” he said.
Improving the welfare of the Indonesian people
Qodari explained that the more economic opportunities opened through diplomacy, the greater the potential for investment, job creation, the strengthening of national industry, and Indonesia’s economic resilience.
This, he said, was reflected in Prabowo’s visit to Russia and his attendance at the 11th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF). At the forum, the President invited global business players to invest and create added value in Indonesia.
Prabowo also urged Russia to double the value of bilateral trade should the free trade cooperation between Indonesia and the Eurasian Economic Union come into force.
Beyond trade and investment, the President also pushed for stronger Indonesia-Russia cooperation in the food and energy sectors.
That cooperation is aimed at strengthening national self-reliance whilst improving Indonesia’s capacity to face global uncertainty.
Qodari stressed that handling domestic issues and foreign diplomacy are not two conflicting agendas. Rather, both are carried out simultaneously to achieve the same goal: improving public welfare.
“Therefore, for Indonesia, addressing challenges at home and fighting for national interests through diplomacy are not contradictory,” Qodari said.
“Both are tasks carried out simultaneously, complementing each other, and aimed at improving the welfare of the Indonesian people,” he continued.
He added that the Indonesian people must be the primary beneficiaries of every diplomatic step taken by the government.
As such, President Prabowo’s visit to Russia should be seen not merely as a foreign affairs agenda, but also as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen national interests, open economic opportunities, and build Indonesia’s resilience amid global dynamics.