Teddy Outlines Prabowo's Achievements Over 1.5 Years: Indonesia Joins BRICS and Secures Rp 2,430 Trillion in Investment

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya has responded to criticisms from former Deputy Foreign Minister Dino Patti Djalal regarding the frequency of President Prabowo Subianto’s overseas working visits. Teddy clarified several points while revealing a series of concrete achievements resulting from Prabowo’s diplomacy.

Teddy stated that President Prabowo’s foreign trips are not merely ceremonial or for show. Amidst a dynamic global situation hit by various global crises, emotional closeness between world leaders is crucial for national interests. “Therefore, it is quite wrong to say it is just for show or ceremonial. We must look at what has been achieved in the last one and a half years,” Teddy said in a video posted on the Cabinet Secretariat’s Instagram account.

Teddy then detailed seven concrete results from President Prabowo’s diplomatic efforts over the past 1.5 years. First, Indonesia has joined BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). Teddy noted that this move has helped ensure national stability amidst global crises, such as maintaining secure fuel stocks and prices, as well as food security.

Second, the achievement of 0% tariffs with 25 countries in the European Union. Teddy noted that while this agreement had been pursued for decades, it was finally realised during President Prabowo’s term in 2025. Third, total investment inflows over the last 1.5 years reached Rp 2,430 trillion, according to data from the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). Teddy explained that during working visits to South Korea and Japan, Prabowo secured approximately Rp 575 trillion in investment.

Fourth, Indonesia has strengthened its defence capabilities with equipment sourced from various nations, including France, the USA, Russia, China, and the UK. Fifth, the Hajj programmes for 2025 and 2026 have proceeded smoothly with no significant obstacles. Notably, Indonesia is the only country to have a dedicated Hajj village in Saudi Arabia following changes to local regulations.

Sixth, President Prabowo has played an active role in Palestine. Evidence includes several successful aerial logistics drops, which required complex diplomacy with countries whose airspace the planes traversed. Furthermore, Indonesia has sent hospital ships to Palestine and provided scholarships for Palestinian children in Indonesian universities, with the number of students reaching approximately 100.

Additionally, Teddy revealed that through both quiet and public diplomacy by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an Indonesian citizen detained by Israeli authorities in international waters was successfully repatriated. “What I am presenting are the concrete, real results of the last one and a half years, achieved through various diplomatic methods, whether public or private, because the most important thing for us is the concrete result,” Teddy added.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto faced scrutiny for his frequent overseas visits amidst a weakening Rupiah. Former Deputy Foreign Minister Dino Patti Djalal noted that Prabowo is the head of state who travels abroad most frequently, spending one out of every six days abroad since taking office. Dino argued that such visits incur massive costs, including expenses for advance teams, aircraft, hotels, logistics, consumption, protocol, security, and daily allowances for the entire delegation, noting that a single trip can cost tens or even hundreds of billions of Rupiah.