Prabowo Puzzled by Criticism of His Frequent Overseas Trips

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto is puzzled by those who question the frequency of his overseas trips. He considers it normal for a head of state to travel to various parts of the world.

Speaking at the National Conference of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (Hipmi) in Bandar Lampung on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, Prabowo said he found the criticism of his foreign visits contradictory.

He noted that his predecessor, former President Joko Widodo, was often criticized for traveling abroad too infrequently during his time in office.

“There was a president like Mr. Jokowi who rarely went abroad, and he was criticized for it. People said, ‘Jokowi never goes abroad. Jokowi doesn't care about foreign affairs,’” Prabowo said, according to a broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat.

Prabowo said he now faces the opposite criticism.

“I travel abroad frequently, and people say, ‘Prabowo goes abroad too often.’ It's strange,” the Gerindra Party chairperson remarked.

Despite the criticism, Prabowo said he remains focused on carrying out his duties and is unfazed by public debate over his travel schedule.

“There will always be criticism. What matters is that we know our limits and our responsibilities. As long as I believe I am working for the nation and the people of Indonesia, I will not hesitate,” he said.

Prabowo argued that international engagement is increasingly important given today's volatile geopolitical landscape. He said Indonesia must maintain good relations with a wide range of countries as global alliances continue to shift.

“The world situation is uncertain. We need to build good relations with everyone. We do not always know who will be our friends or our rivals,” he said.

The former defense minister also highlighted Indonesia's long-standing non-aligned foreign policy, saying it allows the country to pursue an independent and active diplomatic approach while maintaining ties with various nations.

Prabowo's extensive overseas travel has drawn criticism from several observers, including Dino Patti Djalal, founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) and a former deputy foreign minister.

Dino previously suggested that Prabowo reduce the frequency of his foreign trips, noting that the president had spent roughly one out of every six days abroad during his administration. He said the pace of the overseas visits had prompted questions from some observers about their necessity and effectiveness.

Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to the writing of this article.

Read: State Observers Face Police over Prabowo Criticism

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