President Prabowo Subianto Engages National Figures on Foreign Policy

Minister of Foreign Affairs delivers a press conference at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Monday (02/04).

President Prabowo Subianto Wednesday (02/04) at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, chaired a meeting with prominent figures and scholars on foreign policy.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono said the President had invited national figures who actively contribute to internal relations issues, including experts, diplomatic activists, former Foreign Ministers and Vice Ministers, academics, practitioners, as well as Chairpersons and members of the House of Representatives’ Commission I overseeing defense, foreign affairs, communications and informatics, and intelligence affairs.

“During the meeting, the President delivered a brief explanation about Indonesia’s foreign policy and discussed it in his capacity as Head of State, who holds the sole mandate to determine the direction of the country’s foreign policy,” the Minister said.

Sugiono also noted that the meeting was conducted as a two-way discussion between the President and the national figures to foster mutual understanding.

Some recommendations were also put forward to strengthen the policy, he added.

“Each of these respected figures shared their views, arguments, and considerations, which I believe were in line with our previous thinking; thereby, reinforcing the discussion,” Sugiono said.

“I did not notice any opposing counterarguments, although there were certainly new perspectives. In the end, we shared the same view on our foreign policy,” he said, adding that the discussion forum will be held periodically and this approach is expected to ensure alignment and foster mutual understanding of the Government’s policies, particularly in the area of foreign policy.

“Based on the President’s directives, this discussion forum will become a regular agenda, allowing us to build mutual understanding of government policy, particularly foreign policy, under the President’s leadership,” he continued.

The Minister also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to all invitees who actively participated in the meeting.

“I would like to thank all the invitees who were present from this evening until late tonight,” he concluded. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (RD/EP)