Indonesian newly elected President Prabowo Subianto was sworn in on Sunday, October 20th, amid international attention on how he will lead Indonesia in facing increasingly complex geopolitical situations, especially with the rising strategic competition between the US and China.
At the age of 73, Prabowo Subianto, who previously served as Indonesia’s longest-serving defense minister, now becomes the oldest president of the country. His VP, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of former President Joko Widodo, also took the oath, making 37-year-old Gibran the youngest Vice President in Indonesian history.
Prabowo was a longtime political rival of Joko, having lost to him in the presidential elections of 2014 and 2019. However, after Joko’s successful reelection, he appointed Prabowo as defense minister, paving the way for a political alliance. During his campaign, Prabowo positioned himself as the successor to Joko, promising to continue important policies such as the construction of a new capital costing billions of dollars and limiting raw material exports to boost domestic industrial development.
With Joko’s support, Prabowo won the presidential election in February with a significant majority. Yet, how he will govern Southeast Asia’s largest economy remains uncertain, as Prabowo made few concrete commitments during the campaign beyond endorsing existing policies.
Leaders and senior officials from over thirty countries attended the inauguration ceremony, including Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and leaders from Southeast Asian nations. In contrast, US President Biden sent Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, and Navy Admiral Samuel Paparo from the US Indo-Pacific Command as part of the American delegation.
In his inaugural speech, Prabowo called for unity among the Indonesian people to tackle future challenges and drive change. He pledged to strengthen Indonesia’s international engagement while emphasizing a commitment to non-aligned foreign policy, guiding the country towards the future.
Prabowo also denounced widespread corruption, noting issues like unemployment, malnutrition among children, and poorly maintained schools. He vowed to address corruption and achieve food and energy self-sufficiency within the next five years.
“We will oppose all forms of colonialism, and we will defend the interests of oppressed peoples around the world,” Prabowo declared.
Adhi Priamarizki, a researcher at the Raja Haji Lepen Naval International Research Institute, told the Associated Press that he believes defense development is Prabowo’s top priority. Priamarizki stated that Prabowo advocates expanding military capabilities by acquiring submarines, warships, and fighter jets, while seeking increased defense cooperation with other countries.
Priamarizki noted that Prabowo has engaged with US officials at least seven times post-election, the most among foreign officials he has met, while also interacting six times with Chinese officials. “This could be interpreted as Prabowo intending to adopt a more balanced stance towards both countries,” he said.