JAKARTA - Gerindra Party spokesman, Sugiat Santoso, said that if the assessment of President Prabowo Subianto's trip abroad as a waste of budget was a partial way of looking at it from certain parties.
He explained that Prabowo's visit was the Head of State's strategy in strengthening Indonesia's diplomatic relations with friendly countries. For example, in converting the advantages of nickel commodities to Indonesia's geopolitical position in the international arena.
"Indonesia is not just visiting. Mr. Prabowo is converting the advantages of nickel commodities and our geopolitical position into real investments and a security fortress before this global window of opportunity is closed," said Sugiat in his statement, Jakarta, Thursday, May 28, 2026.
Sugiat explained that President Prabowo's free-active foreign policy paradigm is offensive diplomacy, which is a strategy to build proactive foreign relations in fighting for national interests.
He said that offensive diplomacy was carried out in response to and anticipating crises. That is, he said, President Prabowo took the initiative to set the agenda, build alliances, and provide strategic pressure so that negotiations would run according to their goals.
"Prabowo took a step ahead before being dictated by other countries. He took a firm position in declaring sovereignty, political position, and defending his citizens in a measured way," he said.
The Deputy Chairman of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives said that there were 3 European countries visited by President Prabowo in late May 2026, namely France, Austria, and Hungary. These three countries have strategic positions that Indonesia needs.
Sugiat revealed that France has the largest military and technological power in Western Europe that does not sell advanced weapons systems or provide strategic commitments just because the buyer has money.
"Political closeness that is built gradually through repeated visits is an absolute requirement in working with Macron," he said.
Meanwhile, Austria is the gateway to Central Europe's precision manufacturing industry. According to him, its main industries are centered on machinery, automotive, metal processing, chemicals, and food/beverages.
Meanwhile, Hungary is the center of aggressive development of EV battery gigafactories in the European Union (a gathering place for giants such as Samsung SDI and CATL). He said entering Hungary means locking Indonesia's position in the European battery supply chain from the most open door.
The legislator from the North Sumatra (Sumut) III Dapil emphasized that Indonesia controls 65 percent of the world's nickel. Meanwhile, Europe (through its gigafactory in Hungary/Budapest and Austrian/Vienna technology) is in dire need of Indonesian nickel.
"Mr. Prabowo came there not as a beggar for help, but as the owner of strategic commodities that determine the future of the world's automotive industry," he said.
Sugiat revealed that the world is currently transitioning to electric vehicles. However, Indonesia has limited time before battery technology shifts to non-nickel materials.
For this reason, he said that if President Prabowo moves quickly in a marathon (Paris-Vienna-Budapest) in one month to lock in this downstream investment before the window of opportunity is closed. Delaying the trip means losing the golden momentum.
Not only that, Sugiat explained that a country cannot dictate the world if its military is weak. Repeated visits to Paris are a way for Prabowo to build high-level trust with President Macron so that Indonesia is given access to military technology that not every country can buy.
Therefore, Sugiat again emphasized that the assessment of the President's journey only from the cost of plane tickets is a way of thinking that is not comparable. The value of defense technology transfer, sovereignty security in the North Natuna Sea, and Indonesia's bargaining position as a regional power is much greater than just the cost of travel operations.
"This visit to France is a tangible proof of a free-active politics that is authoritative. Indonesia does not follow America, does not bow to China, and is not afraid of NATO pressure when dealing with Russia in order to secure cheap oil and LPG supplies for the people," he said.
"Mr. Prabowo is practicing high-level hedging (geopolitical balance) so that Indonesia cannot be ignored by any world power," he added.
He stated that President Prabowo is currently not engaged in ceremonial diplomacy or merely signing on paper. The Head of State is fighting on the world stage to raise Indonesia's class from a developing country to an economically independent and militarily powerful global power.
"Indonesia is being led by a Patriot who knows exactly how to win national interests abroad. Assessing the success of international diplomacy from the results of a few weeks or months is a illogical way of thinking," he said.
Closing his statement, Sugiat said the commitments, technology transfer, and investments locked in Paris, Vienna, and Budapest were long-term foundations whose results would only be visible in the next few years.
"Mr. Prabowo is a statesman. A statesman gives what he can give to the country, while politicians look for what they can get from the country," he said.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
