By: Irfan Aditya )*
The visit of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, to the Middle East marks a new chapter in Indonesia’s diplomatic relations and international cooperation. During the state visit that lasted for several days, President Prabowo visited several strategic partner countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan. This visit not only became a momentum to strengthen bilateral relations, but also resulted in various important agreements that will have a positive impact on national development, people’s welfare, and Indonesia’s position in the global arena.
One of the main focuses of the visit was strengthening cooperation in the fields of economy, investment, and defense. The visit brought the spirit of building solidarity between countries and discussing key issues in the region, including the Gaza conflict and economic cooperation. In the UAE, President Prabowo succeeded in establishing new investment agreements in the renewable energy, infrastructure, and digital technology sectors. Large companies from the Middle East expressed high interest in investing in Indonesia, in line with the government’s agenda to accelerate national development and encourage economic transformation. This investment will create new jobs, increase the competitiveness of the national industry, and strengthen the foundation of a green and sustainable economy.
Deputy for Protocol, Press, and Media of the Presidential Secretariat Yusuf Permana said that President Prabowo’s visit to the Middle East this time will discuss the current geopolitical situation, consult on the situation in Gaza, and consult on Indonesia’s plan to temporarily accommodate Palestinian victims of the war in Gaza. After meeting with the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit continued to Turkey. In Turkey, the President called for an invitation to build a peaceful world, free from oppression by any party. This call is considered important to open up new opportunities in resolving humanitarian conflicts in various countries amidst the world’s uncertain situation.
This visit affirms Indonesia’s active role in international diplomacy and strengthens solidarity between Muslim countries. With a warm, productive, and visionary approach, President Prabowo has succeeded in building trust and opening up new opportunities for Indonesia in the Middle East region. This visit also symbolizes the transformation of Indonesian diplomacy which is now more dynamic, open to innovation, and oriented towards real results that have a direct impact on the welfare of the people.
On the other hand, cultural and religious relations also received special attention during this visit. President Prabowo took the time to visit Islamic holy places and hold dialogues with prominent clerics and religious figures. This step strengthens the spiritual relationship between the Indonesian people and the Islamic world, and strengthens Indonesia’s image as the country with the largest Muslim population that upholds tolerance and peace. The President also conveyed Indonesia’s commitment to fighting for humanitarian and peace issues in the Middle East, including supporting a peaceful solution to the conflict in Palestine.
Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu), Sugiono said that President Prabowo’s visit to the five countries was not only bilateral. But also to conduct in-depth consultations regarding the geopolitical situation and humanitarian conditions in Palestine. Indonesia emphasized its consistent position in supporting the struggle of the Palestinian people and rejecting all forms of forced relocation of Gazans. He also said that the humanitarian steps being considered by Indonesia were voluntary and must be based on the agreement of all parties involved.
In addition, the visit to the Middle East strengthened strategic cooperation in education and innovation. Several countries expressed their readiness to establish research collaboration and student exchanges with universities in Indonesia. This is a golden opportunity to improve the quality of Indonesian human resources and accelerate the transfer of knowledge and technology. Not only that, the sports and tourism sectors are also being explored for joint development, considering that countries in the Middle East have extensive experience in organizing international events such as the World Cup.
The international community’s response to President Prabowo’s visit was very positive. Many saw that Indonesia under his leadership demonstrated an active, balanced, and collaborative foreign policy direction. The diplomacy carried out was not only symbolic, but also substantive and provided direct benefits to the people. With a pragmatic and open approach, President Prabowo succeeded in showing that Indonesia is ready to be a reliable strategic partner in the Asia and Middle East regions.
President Prabowo’s visit to the Middle East is a smart and meaningful strategic step in strengthening Indonesia’s position in the international world. The cooperation that is established will be an important foundation for economic growth, increasing national capacity, and strengthening global diplomacy. This is real evidence that Indonesian diplomacy in the new era is not only about maintaining good relations, but also about creating concrete added value for all Indonesian people. In addition, Indonesia is not only strengthening bilateral relations, but also expanding strategic networks that will provide long-term benefits for national development and Indonesia’s position as a global partner to be reckoned with.
)* The author is a Public Policy Observer
