Europe
President Prabowo Subianto arrives on May 7, 2026, ahead of the 48th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Cebu, the Philippines. (Reuters/Pool/Jacqueline Hernandez)
President Prabowo Subianto's increasingly active foreign diplomacy is drawing growing scrutiny, with critics questioning the transparency, urgency and tangible benefits of his frequent overseas engagements as Indonesia grapples with economic headwinds and a range of domestic challenges.Ahead of the Idul Adha holiday last week, Prabowo traveled to Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on strengthening cooperation in areas such as defense, energy and education, and also attended the Idul Adha celebrations with members of the Indonesian diaspora.
The trip marked Prabowo's fourth visit to France since taking office in October 2024 and added to a busy international schedule that has seen him visit at least 29 countries in more than 50 overseas engagements.
The pace of those visits has fueled questions about the administration’s priorities, particularly as the government grapples with a weakening rupiah amid global dollar strength, regulatory uncertainty and other pressing domestic challenges.
