Since his election to the presidency in February, Prabowo Subianto has embarked on an all-out diplomatic tour in China, Russia, the Gulf countries and even France, adopting a bolder approach than that of his predecessor, in the aim to establish Indonesia’s role on the international scene.
For ten years, Joko Widodo, nicknamed “Jokowi”, gave priority to the internal issues of his country, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, rather than foreign policy. He did not attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York once.
Prabowo Subianto, who will succeed him on October 20, has visited more than a dozen countries since his election on February 14, promising to strengthen his relations with each of them.
“Our vision of defense will be based on… a network of solid friendships. This network will be the pillar (…) of our foreign policy and also of our defense policy”, declared during the campaign the one who occupies still the function of Minister of Defense (since 2019).
The list of countries visited helps paint a picture of its desire to deepen alliances, even if Indonesia remains faithful to its strategy as a non-aligned country, despite Western pressure to obtain its support in issues affecting on the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
Prabowo Subianto visited China then Turkey and Russia, a power with which an agreement on the purchase of fighter planes remains on the table despite Western sanctions.
He then signed a security agreement with Australia, while traveling to France to discuss military cooperation.
– Difficult balance –
Jokowi has also played his part in global diplomacy, traveling to Moscow and kyiv in 2022 to mediate the war in Ukraine, or hosting the 2022 G20 summit in Bali. But since then he has focused more on domestic issues.
“Prabowo Subianto’s main foreign policy objective is to restore Indonesia’s role on the world stage,” said Yoes Kenawas, a researcher at Atma Jaya University in Yogyakarta. “This represents a clear difference from Jokowi (who) didn’t really care about foreign policy.”
Prabowo Subianto was also received in Japan, Singapore, Serbia, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam.
He also held discussions with Russia on a trade agreement with the Eurasian bloc, seen as a counterweight to the European Union which, he said during his campaign, Jakarta “doesn’t really need anymore”.
Tensions increased between Jakarta and Brussels over a new European regulation, ultimately postponed for a year, aimed at banning the sale of products from deforested lands, notably palm oil, of which Indonesia is the largest. one of the main exporters.
Prabowo Subianto also undertook a tour of the Middle East to ask the Gulf powers for stronger economic ties.
“His visits show that he is positioning himself as a leader ready to shape Indonesia’s role on the world stage” in order to “attract more foreign investment,” judges Dedi Dinarto, Indonesia specialist at Global firm Counsel.
But the most delicate task for the new head of state will be to walk a tightrope between Beijing and Washington.
Prabowo Subianto met with Xi Jinping in April and then with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jordan, but was not invited to the United States.
One of the thorny issues concerns the South China Sea, where Beijing’s actions are causing growing concern.
The agreement signed with Australia last month sees the neighbors commit to closer cooperation to counter security threats.
“It seems that he (Prabowo) is more than willing to take bold steps to safeguard Indonesia’s interests,” Dinarto added.
But according to observers, the former soldier, aged 72, will not be able to deviate too much from the path traced by Jokowi, still very popular in the country. His support seems crucial for Prabowo Subianto.
“I think that everything he (Prabowo) has done in recent weeks has been in consultation with Jokowi,” says Mr. Kenawas.
Contacted by AFP, Prabowo Subianto’s team did not respond to requests.
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