11 December 2025
An Analysis of Indonesia’s Foreign Policy under Prabowo: Managing Great Power Relations
Executive Summary
This report explores Indonesia’s foreign policy under President Prabowo Subianto in the context of the rise of multiple poles of power to challenge the predominant US-led world order and the ongoing great power rivalry between the United States and China.
As Indonesia aims to develop into a rising economic power, with a particular focus on growing its economy into the fifth largest in the world by 2045, it is unsurprising that much of Prabowo’s diplomatic overtures have involved trade and investment deals. He is largely considered to be continuing his predecessor President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s legacy of an economy-first foreign policy, with a focus on domestic development, albeit adopting a more personal and hands-on approach to international diplomacy compared to his predecessor.
The report analyses agreements that the Prabowo government has made with significant powers such as Russia, China and the United States. While such agreements are likely made with Indonesia’s economic goals in mind, they risk threatening Indonesia’s ability to maintain a neutral, non-aligned foreign policy. The report concludes that while Prabowo’s diplomatic engagements involve both Western and non-Western powers, his government’s recent deals with Russia and China have exposed the country to possible retaliatory actions from the United States and other Western countries in a world of increasing geopolitical competition.
Executive Summary
This report explores Indonesia’s foreign policy under President Prabowo Subianto in the context of the rise of multiple poles of power to challenge the predominant US-led world order and the ongoing great power rivalry between the United States and China.
As Indonesia aims to develop into a rising economic power, with a particular focus on growing its economy into the fifth largest in the world by 2045, it is unsurprising that much of Prabowo’s diplomatic overtures have involved trade and investment deals. He is largely considered to be continuing his predecessor President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s legacy of an economy-first foreign policy, with a focus on domestic development, albeit adopting a more personal and hands-on approach to international diplomacy compared to his predecessor.
The report analyses agreements that the Prabowo government has made with significant powers such as Russia, China and the United States. While such agreements are likely made with Indonesia’s economic goals in mind, they risk threatening Indonesia’s ability to maintain a neutral, non-aligned foreign policy. The report concludes that while Prabowo’s diplomatic engagements involve both Western and non-Western powers, his government’s recent deals with Russia and China have exposed the country to possible retaliatory actions from the United States and other Western countries in a world of increasing geopolitical competition.
