February 3, 2026 | 03:34 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - More than a year after his inauguration, President Prabowo Subianto has dominated the stage at international forums. By contrast, Foreign Minister Sugiono has rarely appeared as the principal face of Indonesia's diplomacy. He has seemed to remain in Prabowo's shadow.
Radityo Dharmaputra, a lecturer in international relations at Airlangga University in Surabaya, said the situation marked a sharp contrast with the previous administration. Under President Joko Widodo, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi was the dominant face of Indonesia's diplomacy. "Minister Retno truly had full authority to conduct foreign policy and diplomacy because Jokowi did not want to handle it himself, especially during his first term," Radityo said when contacted by Tempo on Thursday, January 29, 2026. In the Prabowo era, he added, that authority appeared more limited.
A senior diplomat acknowledged that the work culture at the Foreign Ministry has grown increasingly passive. Across all levels, from staff to senior leadership, there has been a tendency to avoid risk and play it safe, the source told Tempo. The system has rested entirely on decisions made at the top, leaving the organization stripped of dynamism.
The involvement of Indonesian ambassadors posted overseas has also diminished during presidential visits to partner countries. According to the source, there were no briefings before the President's departure or presentations after his return. Ambassadors in host countries were often not consulted on strategic issues, negotiating positions, or the sensitivities of bilateral relations.
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