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Prabowo's Trump Moment: A Shift in Indonesia's Foreign Policy?
🇨🇳 China /Elections & Politics

Prabowo's Trump Moment: A Shift in Indonesia's Foreign Policy?

From South China Morning Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's warm exchange with Donald Trump at a Gaza peace summit sparked speculation about his engagement with the former US president.
  • The interaction contrasted with initial perceptions of Prabowo as a leader leaning towards China after his election.
  • Analysts had previously warned of Indonesia potentially aligning more closely with China due to Beijing's significant economic presence.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's interaction with former US President Donald Trump at a Gaza peace summit in Egypt last October has drawn attention and fueled speculation. During the summit, Prabowo leaned towards Trump and inquired about meeting his son, Eric, to which Trump responded warmly, promising to have Eric call.

This exchange, captured on a hot microphone, quickly circulated online, prompting discussions in Jakarta and Washington about Prabowo's unusually personal approach to engaging with the "America First" leader. The moment stood in contrast to the initial perception of Prabowo following his 2024 election as Indonesia's most Beijing-friendly leader in recent years.

Can I meet Eric?

— Indonesian President Prabowo SubiantoAsking Donald Trump about meeting his son at a Gaza peace summit.

Some analysts at the time had expressed concerns, warning that Jakarta might be "sleepwalking" into a closer strategic alignment with China. These concerns were largely based on Beijing's deep and long-standing economic presence within Indonesia. The interaction with Trump, however, introduced a new dynamic into the foreign policy discussions surrounding Prabowo's administration.

I’ll have Eric call. He’s such a good boy.

— Donald TrumpResponding to Prabowo's request to meet his son.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by South China Morning Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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