June 3, 2026 | 03:03 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has come forward to defend former Deputy Foreign Minister Dino Patti Djalal, describing him as a veteran diplomat with an impeccable track record. Anies offered his perspective after Dino criticized the frequency and budgetary efficiency of President Prabowo Subianto’s extensive state visits abroad.According to Anies, Dino's credentials in international relations span several decades. "Dino Patti Djalal is neither a karbitan (an overnight) diplomat nor a karbitan official," Anies shared in a post on his X social media account on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.Anies looked back on Dino’s career milestones, tracing them back to their university days. He recalled first learning about Dino when the then-young diplomat boldly went head-to-head on BBC World against veteran diplomat Ramos-Horta at a time when Indonesia faced intense pressure on the global stage."The young Indonesian diplomat brilliantly defended the nation's dignity. That was the moment I first heard his name," Anies noted.Years later, while Anies was pursuing his doctoral studies in Chicago, their paths crossed again. On that occasion, Dino articulated the challenges facing the Indonesian diaspora in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy with diplomatic poise.Furthermore, the 2024 presidential candidate praised Dino’s vision in launching the 2012 Congress of Indonesian Diaspora, a landmark initiative that united global diaspora networks. Around the same period, Dino went on to found the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI)."A master of substance with a proven track record and deep leadership experience. That is Dino. His diplomatic career is both long and solid, and his love for Indonesia's foreign policy runs deep," Anies stated.Questioning Prabowo's Overseas VisitsThe controversy began when Dino highlighted the sheer velocity of President Prabowo Subianto's international travel. Dino calculated that since taking office, Prabowo had spent roughly one out of every six days traveling abroad, a frequency that has raised eyebrows among observers.Dino argued that such high-frequency travel lacks diplomatic efficiency. "Official head-of-state visits to foreign countries incur large, even very large costs," Dino observed in a video clip shared via his Instagram account, @dinopattidjalal.Cabinet Secretary's Counter-Response Triggers BacklashThe critique quickly gained traction after the government's counter-response was widely criticized as dismissive. Observers pointed specifically to remarks made by Cabinet Secretary Lieutenant Colonel Teddy Indra Wijaya.In a 6-minute and 44-second video response, Teddy clarified that any travel expenses exceeding the state budget allocation were financed directly out of Prabowo's personal pocket.However, during the same address, Teddy pointedly mentioned that Dino Patti Djalal had only served as Deputy Foreign Minister for a brief three-month window. "Thank you for the input given, very careful and structured. I think he is a great diplomat, once served as Deputy Foreign Minister, even if that opportunity lasted for only about three months," Teddy remarked in a video posted to the @sekretariat.kabinet account on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.The comment triggered an immediate backlash online. Netizens accused Teddy of using the three-month timeframe to minimize the career of an accomplished diplomat rather than addressing the actual substance of the critique.Read: Teddy Explains Why Prabowo's Frequent Foreign Trips Are EssentialClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
