President Prabowo’s First Foreign Tour Signals Indonesia’s Return To Global Stage

By Tria Dianti

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s upcoming maiden tour to five nations – from east to west and north to south – is a clear sign that Jakarta plans a return to the world stage as a key player, analysts said.

It marks a shift toward a more assertive foreign policy that reflects his personal vision for Indonesia’s role in global affairs, according to diplomacy experts.

The new president embarks this week on a 12-day trip to China, the United States, Peru, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. His journey around the globe will also reflect Prabowo’s desire to strengthen ties with both traditional and emerging powers, analysts said.

The multilingual Prabowo has had international exposure from his childhood through his previous military career, and foreign policy has long been a personal interest, said Rizky Ihsan, an international relations doctoral candidate at Griffith University in Australia.

“It’s natural for him to be eager to play a more direct role in shaping Indonesia’s global affairs,” Rizky told BenarNews.

That is reflected in Prabowo’s decision to appoint Sugiono, a close associate who is not from the foreign service, as foreign minister, Rizky said. This means “a shift toward a more hands-on foreign policy,” he said.

Prabowo also intends “to take a more active role in international forums and in addressing global issues,” Rizky said, as he referred to Indonesia’s decision to seek membership in the BRICS economic bloc.

This was a reversal from the earlier administration’s hesitance in joining the economic grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. 

Under his predecessor, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Indonesia often focused on pragmatic foreign policy issues that had a direct economic impact, leaving broader strategic decisions to his foreign minister. 

Prabowo’s trip  begins with a visit to Beijing from Friday, Nov. 8 to 10, where he will meet with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and senior officials of the Chinese Communist Party, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. 

The new Indonesian leader in fact met with Xi earlier this year, raising many eyebrows because at Xi’s invitation,  China was the first country Prabowo visited after winning the presidency. 

However, he went from China straight to Japan, a firm ally of the other superpower, the U.S., so he could not be accused of tilting towards the Asian superpower.

During Prabowo’s inauguration as president last month, he met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. 

The Indonesian president will then head to Washington, for a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House. The exact dates for that visit have not yet been confirmed.

At Prabowo’s inauguration, the United States was represented by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, its ambassador to the United Nations, who also met with him. 

Prabowo’s trip will also include stops in Peru and Brazil, where he will attend meetings connected to Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and G20 summits.

The final stop on his diplomatic tour will be the United Kingdom on Nov. 19, where he will meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. 

Prabowo’s itinerary in London includes a meeting with King Charles at Buckingham Palace, according to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry. 

The Indonesian president intends to demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of global politics, believes Muhammad Waffa Kharisma, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). 

“Prabowo is keen to show that he has a broader geopolitical vision, especially in regard to the U.S.-China rivalry,” Waffaa told BenarNews. 

“This trip to key countries is about securing Indonesia’s role in the global order.”

Griffith University’s Rizky said Indonesia would become more active in global discussions, especially as it strengthens ties with both China and the U.S.

“Prabowo is positioning Indonesia to play a pivotal role between these two superpowers, especially as trade tensions between China and the U.S. continue to intensify,” he said.

At the same time, Indonesia remains committed to diversifying its trade relationships, and strengthening its economic ties with countries in the Global South, including in Latin America, analysts said.

Prabowo’s attendance at the G20 summit of the world’s top 20 economies (Nov. 18-19) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit (Nov. 10-16) signal his desire to deepen engagement with multilateral organizations, analysts said.

“These initial visits show that Indonesia’s foreign policy will be driven by pragmatic considerations – securing trade deals, boosting defense partnerships, and enhancing Indonesia’s global standing,” Waffaa said.

Reza Widyarsa, an international relations scholar at Paramadina University, noted that Prabowo’s tour was likely aimed at asserting Indonesia’s autonomy. 

“Prabowo wants to demonstrate that Indonesia is not dependent on any one country by seeking alternatives to diversify sources for things we cannot produce ourselves or for our national interests,” Reza told BenarNews.

“We are no longer overly dependent on military equipment from specific countries, when in the past, it was mainly the U.S. or the U.K.,” he added.

Prabowo appears eager to chart his own course, said Vinsensio Dugis, head of the Center for ASEAN Studies at Airlangga University. 

“Prabowo has always been viewed as a figure shaped by the legacy of others, whether it’s his military career or his political rise through his ties to Suharto,” Dugis said, referring to the authoritarian ex-president under whom the current president served in the army.

“Now, as president, he wants to prove that he can lead on his own terms. Prabowo’s engagement abroad is about showing he’s different from his predecessor.”