President-elect Prabowo Subianto’s proactive diplomacy ahead of his October inauguration signals a more assertive Indonesian foreign policy. While speculation suggests a pivot toward bilateral engagements, ASEAN will remain central as “good neighborship” becomes a hallmark of Prabowo’s approach. Indonesia is expected to play a leading role in ASEAN reform, conflict resolution in Myanmar, and advancing the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) to balance great-power competition. With an ambitious growth target and broader global activism, the next foreign minister’s role will be crucial in complementing Prabowo’s vision of Indonesia as both the voice of ASEAN and a strategic Indo-Pacific player.
