TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rolliansyah Soemirat, also known as Roy, addressed the first 100 days of President Prabowo Subianto's administration, particularly focusing on foreign policy under the leadership of Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono. Roy allows the public to judge the ministry's performance, declining to explicitly list achievements

"Of course, we will fully hand it over to the public," said Roy during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Central Jakarta on Friday, February 7, 2025.

Nevertheless, Roy highlighted several agreements reached during this period, particularly in trade and security. He cited Prabowo's visits to various countries as having brought significant investment to Indonesia.

Roy also revealed that during these visits, the Indonesian government received support from many countries to carry out priority programs, especially the free nutritious meal (MBG) program.

He emphasized that during the first 100 days, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consistently and continuously followed Prabowo's instructions to ensure Indonesia's significant role on the international stage. He also mentioned that Indonesia is committed to being a driving force that prioritizes the interests of developing countries.

Previously, Hikmahanto Juwana, a professor of international law at the University of Indonesia (UI), criticized the division of roles between President Prabowo and Foreign Minister Sugiono. He observed that Prabowo appears to be dominating Indonesia's foreign policy more than Sugiono, potentially leading to top-down decision-making, rather than the other way around.

"There is an adage that says, like in England, the king can do no wrong. Here, it's the president can do no wrong," Hikmahanto commented during a virtual focus group discussion (FGD) with Tempo on Wednesday, January 15, 2024.

Hikmahanto expressed concern that Prabowo might not be adequately considering input from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasizing the importance of Prabowo listening to the Ministry’s bureaucracy. He noted that while politicians may change with administrations, bureaucrats provide valuable institutional experience and continuity.

He argued that a nation's stability, including in international relations, is largely influenced by its bureaucracy. He stressed that other countries prefer a stable Indonesia. "This is what I see in the current government. This bureaucracy seems to have to adjust to his, Prabowo's wishes when he has to make decisions," he said.

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