Editorial: Prabowo’s Directionless Diplomacy

By Tempo.co, December 29, 2024

Dubbed a “foreign policy president” by former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono because of his grasp of geopolitics, in office now barely two months, President Prabowo Subianto has already stumbled in several key foreign policy decisions. His approach, seemingly aimed at pleasing all sides, combined with the selection of an inexperienced foreign minister, has rendered the new government’s diplomacy rudderless.

One of the most contentious moves has been President Prabowo’s stance on the South China Sea dispute. During a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on November 9, 2024, President Prabowo proposed resolving overlapping territorial claims through cooperative efforts. This suggestion marked a departure from Indonesia’s longstanding support for international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

President Prabowo’s proposal appeared to tacitly acknowledge China’s nine-dash line claim, which encompasses a significant portion of the South China Sea and has been a source of friction with Southeast Asian nations like Vietnam and the Philippines. The backlash was swift, with critics both domestically and regionally accusing Indonesia of undermining its neutral stance and commitment to the rule of law.

Ironically, just three days later, during a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington, D.C., President Prabowo reversed course, reaffirming his support for UNCLOS. This abrupt about face raised serious questions: Does President Prabowo grasp the complexities of South China Sea geopolitics, or is he merely playing the role of a “superman” seeking to curry favor with all parties?

Another misstep involved the transfer of drug convicts to their home countries, including Mary Jane Veloso to the Philippines. While the decision was intended as a gesture of humanitarian concern—a notable contrast to former President Joko Widodo’s support for the death penalty—it was executed without a clear legal framework.

Indonesia currently lacks laws governing international prisoner transfers. This absence of regulations was the reason Indonesia rejected Australia’s 2005 request to repatriate Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby. By opening the door to such transfers in Veloso’s case, President Prabowo has risked creating the perception that Indonesia is easily swayed by external lobbying. Other nations, such as Iran, have already submitted similar requests. This move also raises a troubling question: What about Indonesian nationals facing execution abroad?

The situation has been compounded by President Prabowo’s appointment of Sugiono as Minister of Foreign Affairs, (formally House of Representatives member for Central Java I from President Prabowo’s Gerindra Party), a decision met with widespread skepticism given his lack of experience compared to career diplomats. Under Sugiono’s leadership, Indonesia’s foreign policy has so far appeared fragmented and directionless.

If this trajectory continues, President Prabowo risks eroding Indonesia’s credibility on the global stage. The desire to appease all sides without mastering the art of diplomacy could reduce Indonesia from a rising Asian tiger to a toothless symbol-rhetoric without substance.

This article is based on https://www.tempo.co/kolom/diplomasi-luar-negeri-prabowo-1187281. Featured image credit photo by Shuaizhi Tian on Pexels.com

In related news:

• Indonesia Eyes Technocrat as Top US Diplomat After Two-Year Gap, By Chandra Asmara, July 13, 2025,  Bloomberg Indonesia is poised to appoint a US-educated technocrat as its ambassador to Washington, ending a prolonged vacancy in a key diplomatic post at a time when the Southeast Asian nation is recalibrating trade and business ties with the world’s largest economy.…https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-13/indonesia-eyes-technocrat-as-top-us-diplomat-after-two-year-gap
• https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/28/indonesian-president-prabowo-subianto-approval-ratings