For Prabowo, diplomacy is as much about optics and the human element as it is about policy. — Instagram
“I WOULD like to call personally on you wherever you are. I am willing to fly to congratulate you in person, sir.”
These are not just words; they are a calculated signal from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to the world, directed squarely at US President-elect Donald Trump during a phone call on Nov 11.
“Wherever you are, I am willing to fly to congratulate you personally, sir,” he added.
It was an audacious move. A video of that call uploaded to Prabowo’s social media, however, has drawn mixed reactions back home in Indonesia. Some praised his proactive approach, while others criticised it for his deferential posture.
Why the drama? For Prabowo, freshly inaugurated on Oct 20 after a tenacious climb to power in his third bid for the presidency, such gestures are more than political theatre. They are the essence of his diplomatic playbook.
This is a man who understands the potency of personal overtures. A man who grew up in the era of national giants and global statesmen and knows that good personal relationships can forge stronger ties between countries.
And he understands that positive American perceptions of Indonesia can amplify the country’s political weight.
Prabowo’s bold move underscores his aim: to project an image of Indonesia as aktif (active), fully engaged on the global stage and resolute in shaping its foreign policy narrative.
So singularly focused on delivering his key message and adept at reading the moment was he that even when confronted with a seemingly condescending comment from Trump that “your English is so good”, Prabowo responded with poise, crediting his time in America.
“All my training is American, sir,” he said.
This seamless blend of warmth and calculation highlights that for Prabowo, diplomacy is as much about optics and the human element as it is about policy.
There is a second and more substantive reason for this foreign affairs showmanship, when his call with Trump could have been kept quiet.
Prabowo had just arrived in Washington from Beijing, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping on his first overseas trip since taking office. During his visit from Nov 8 to Nov 10, Prabowo stressed that China is an important friend and partner.
This was his second visit to China in 2024, which raised some foreign policy observers’ eyebrows. Just weeks after securing more than 58%of the vote in the Feb 14 election, Prabowo’s first foreign trip as president-elect took him to Beijing.
His phone call with Trump subtly underscored an important message: Indonesia’s stance of bebas (independent) diplomacy and not taking sides between the two superpowers.
Yet, there are signs to suggest Prabowo, widely seen as a foreign policy president, is also projecting a certain new ethos in how Indonesia conducts its external affairs.
During his inauguration about a month ago, the capital city saw several leaders attending, including Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Prabowo wasted no time in playing to the gallery.
“Your presence here is not only a great honour for me personally but, more importantly, it is a great honour for my people and my country,” Prabowo said during an intimate gala dinner he hosted that evening.
“The fact that you have made the effort to travel many, many miles to leave your important political and government duties to spend some time with us is indeed very touching and very moving for us.”
Observers have noted how the world can expect more of this personal approach as Indonesia navigates an increasingly complex global stage under his leadership. To Prabowo, the ambition is clear. Indonesia must reclaim its role as a world leader, echoing the vision of its first president Sukarno, one of the chief architects of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Sukarno himself was a bold orator and deft diplomat, whose positioning of Indonesia on the world stage is an inspiration for the current president, Made Supriatma of the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute told The Straits Times.
“I even call it a badge of honour for him,” Made remarked, referring to comparisons that have been made between Prabowo and the country’s first president. He added that Prabowo’s dress and speech patterns reflect a deliberate nod to Sukarno’s charismatic style.
Still, Prabowo’s approach to grabbing the bull by the horns and fronting daring foreign policy moves carries risks. For one thing, being the man to float new substantive policies can be a dicey strategy.
At the 2023 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, he faced criticism for proposing an unorthodox peace plan for the Russia-Ukraine conflict that many deemed overly simplistic.
More recently, controversy emerged following his visit to Beijing, where a maritime development agreement triggered clarifications from Indonesia on its stance regarding the South China Sea.
During Prabowo’s visit, Jakarta signed a maritime development agreement with Beijing, which mentioned that both countries had “reached important common understanding on joint development in areas of overlapping claims”. This was widely criticised by political observers, media professionals and netizens.
Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry has repeatedly said the country is a non-claimant state in the South China Sea, and has no overlapping jurisdiction with China. On Nov 11, the ministry said that its position was unchanged, and that the maritime development agreement with Beijing would have no impact on its sovereign rights.
These episodes serve as reminders that diplomacy is a high-stakes game, fraught with complexities and risks. Sometimes, such moves may be better delegated to the foreign policy establishment, in order to preserve the integrity of the office of the president.
Prabowo may well have calculated, however, that it is better to risk criticism than to remain a footnote on the global stage. In today’s high-speed diplomatic world, visibility is crucial. Prabowo’s swift moves to position Indonesia as an active player underscore this understanding.
It is fair that he takes risks in search of payoffs. His current approach to foreign policy also mirrors his approach to his political campaign – a rebranding that earned him charm, relatability and votes.
Through lively song and dance, animated digital content and playful caricatures, he evolved from a hardened military figure into a leader embraced by a majority of the nation.
And as his presidency unfolds, the world will be watching to see whether these efforts will elevate Indonesia’s stature and further its foreign policy objectives. — The Straits Times/ANN
Hariz Baharudin is The Straits Times’ Indonesia Correspondent.
