Abstract

This webinar examines the foreign policy direction of Indonesia under President Prabowo Subianto and key challenges that lie ahead. President Prabowo has reframed Indonesia’s sacrosanct ‘’free and active” foreign policy principle through his “good neighbourhood policy” concept. In conducting diplomacy, his administration has pursued an omnidirectional foreign policy approach, characterised by intensive engagement with all major powers on the global stage. In the economic domain, Indonesia has simultaneously pursued membership of both the OECD and BRICS. This reflects Indonesia’s desire to engage with both established and emerging economic powerhouses. In the defence sector, Indonesia has prioritised the modernisation of its military force through the diversification of strategic partnerships with a wide range of countries. The webinar will also assess the state and trajectory of Indonesia’s engagement with ASEAN under President Prabowo’s leadership.

About the Speaker

Marina Ika Sari is the Coordinator and Researcher for the ASEAN Studies Programme at The Habibie Centre. She holds a Master’s degree in Defence Diplomacy from the Republic of Indonesia Defence University. She is an alumna of the 2025 Foreign Policy: Strategic Equilibrium in the Indo-Pacific Short Course by the Australia Awards in Indonesia and a visiting scholar at the Taiwan Centre for Security Studies. Her research interests include defence, security, foreign policy, ASEAN, Indo-Pacific affairs, and Cross-Strait relations.