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Person Of The Moment
Prabowo is raising Indonesia’s profile. But is he also making it harder to read?
Indonesia certainly is more visible on the world stage. But it is also harder to discern what its foreign policy direction is.
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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto meeting (clockwise from top left) Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Russian President Vladimir Putin, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
PHOTOS: INDONESIAN SECRETARIAT PRESS BUREAU, AFP
- Prabowo has adopted a rapid, hands-on, leader-led foreign policy, making numerous trips and deals himself, departing from predecessors' styles.
- His proactive approach has boosted Indonesia's global profile, securing major deals, memberships like BRICS, and strategic partnerships, opening new opportunities.
- However, this personalised diplomacy creates ambiguity, making Indonesia's international positions harder to read and risking reactive, inconsistent policy.
AI generated
No Indonesian president has moved this quickly on the world stage. In just 18 months, Mr Prabowo Subianto has spent close to 100 days abroad, making more than 50 stops across 28 countries and 24 trips.
The pace alone marks a break from his predecessors. In his first year alone, Mr Prabowo made 32 visits to 22 countries.
