Indonesia leads multipolar drive in Southeast Asia

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has concluded an eye-catching visit to Russia, which conveyed three key messages signifying Jakarta’s assertion on the global stage.

First, during his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which were followed by his address at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum-2025 (SPIEF-2025), Prabowo made it plain that under his leadership, Indonesia was pro-actively asserting its strategic autonomy.

The Indonesian President’s decision to choose his attendance at SPIEF instead of the G-7 summit where he had also been invited openly demonstrated that he was not a dutiful camp follower of the West.

“I had already committed to attending this forum before receiving the invitation to the G7 Summit. That is the only reason (why I did not attend the summit),” he explained during his intervention at SPIEF-2025. Despite citing scheduling problems, Prabowo’s decision not to cancel his St. Petersburg visit to participate the G-7 high table, illustrates his independent mindset.

During his address, the Indonesian President reinforced that his country’s foreign policy was solely driven by enlightened national interest, safeguarded by Jakarta’s longstanding non-alignment doctrine.

“Indonesia has always been non-aligned. We respect all nations. Our foreign policy is simple: one thousand friends are too few, but one enemy is too many,” he said.

Second, Prabowo signalled his enthusiastic support for a multipolar world, anchored by the BRICS+ grouping that Indonesia has recently joined.

Speaking at SPIEF=2025, the Indonesian leader praised Russia for fast-tracking Indonesia’s membership of the BRICS+.

"We thank the Government of Russia for promptly supporting us to become a member of BRICS," Prabowo noted.

Significantly, he spotlighted that Indonesia had also joined the New Development Bank (NDB) of the BRICS countries, shortly after joining the grouping in January 2025.

Established in July 2015, the NDB has an authorised capital of US$100 billion and a subscribed capital of US$50 billion, equally shared among founding members.

It primarily funds projects that promote clean energy, transport infrastructure, water and sanitation, environmental protection as well as social and digital infrastructure.

But even prior to his Russia outing, Prabowo had been a strong advocate of the BRICS.  "Actually, I already announced in 2014, when I started my attempts at running for president of Indonesia … I did announce that when I become president of Indonesia, I will bring Indonesia to join BRICS," Prabowo said last November at a business forum in Brazil.

The Indonesian President’s enthusiasm for BRICS is obvious, and infectious. “I was installed on Oct. 20, and [established] my cabinet [a day later]. … I [immediately] sent my foreign minister [Sugiono] to the BRICS’ Kazan summit]. We want to join Brazil and the other BRICS countries. We think that this will be a significant new element in the new global economy,” Prabowo was quoted as saying.

The Indonesian President’s talented foreign minister Sugiano, has further elaborated Indonesia’s natural pivot towards the emerging economies and the Global South, arguing that Indonesia will bridge the developing countries with the Indo-Pacific.

“As a member of BRICS, Indonesia will ensure to bridge the interests of developing countries and the Indo-Pacific region, and will continue to actively prevent the escalation of geoeconomic and geopolitical competition,” explained Sugiono during a press engagement soon after Prabowo assumed office as the eighth President of Indonesia in October last.  

Third, from an ideological standpoint, at a time when the world is torn by international conflicts that threaten a third world war, Prabowo had talked up the “ASEAN spirit” as a template to resolve global conflicts.  

During his address in Türkiye at the Anatalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) in April, Prabowo pointed out that half-a-century ago, Southeast Asia was embroiled in conflicts.  "Lo and behold, 50 years, no conflict. We still have differences, but we tend to use diplomacy, we tend to talk. Better to talk than fight," he affirmed.
Prabowo highlighted that leaders in the ASEAN and Asia regions prioritize diplomacy, even if it means lengthy and painstaking discussions.
"We tend to think of the common interests. This is my philosophy also. I want to bring Indonesia to a position of good relations with all the big powers," he observed.

In terms of geo-economic thought, Prabowo is also demonstrating an out-of-the box approach. He has pointed out that attuned with Indonesia’s unique historical and cultural experience, a hybrid approach needs to be evolved, drawing the best features out of the capitalist and socialist systems.

"That is why I have chosen a middle path, taking the best from both socialism and capitalism," the President observed.

He added that Indonesia’s economic approach still relies on the initiative and innovation found in capitalist systems but also requires government intervention to address poverty, hunger, and protection for vulnerable groups.
The Indonesian President pointed out that Southeast Asian countries have committed one common mistake—mechanically following  the world's most dominant and influential powers.

In Indonesia, the country’s elites have for over the past three decades, pursued the  neoliberal free-market capitalist philosophy —largely characterized by a laissez-faire approach.

However, he stressed that neo-liberalism has not generated equal opportunities for all segments of society.
"We have not succeeded in achieving what is known as the trickle-down effect. Wealth remains concentrated in the hands of a few, less than one percent of the population. In my view, that is not a formula for success."

The wide-range of topics that Prabowo nailed during his SPIEF outing, one common theme stood out—Indonesia is no longer satisfied at being counted as a Middle Power. On the contrary, it is eager to mount the international diplomatic stage.

Unsurprisingly, Prabowo has been outspoken about two ongoing international conflicts Palestine and Ukraine, apart from advocating fundamental UN reforms.  

As the Gaza conflict raged, Prabowo announced that as a humanitarian gesture, his country was ready to evacuate and shelter on a temporary basis, those Palestinians who have been injured, traumatized, or orphaned. The plan envisaged evacuation of around 1,000 victims to Indonesia, where they can recover, till the time they are safe to return to Gaza.

The latest initiative follows, Indonesia’s despatch of medical teams and setting up of field hospitals jointly with the UAE to assist Palestinians.

To demonstrate, Indonesia’s seriousness to defuse the Gaza conflict, Prabowo, in April, concluded a whirlwind tour of the Middle East, with stopovers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan.

Regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Prabowo had met Ukraine’s Volodymir Zelensky on the sidelines in Singapore of the Shangri-La dialogue in 2024 ahead of a peace conference in Switzerland that Kiev had proposed. The Indonesian leader was critical of Ukraine’s decision to exclude Russia from the conclave. "Many countries feel that in a peace summit all elements must be present, especially Russia," he told Zelensky. Nevertheless, Prabowo also offered Indonesia’s good offices to end the conflict.

In shaping the big-picture, the Indonesian President has been an ardent supporter of UN reforms including the expansion of the UN Security Council (UNSC). During his visit to Türkiye, Prabowo has strongly advocated India and Brazil’s presence in the UNSC.

 "Now, there are demands that the security council's permanent members should be increased to represent the reality of this present world," he emphasised at the ADF conclave.  The president spotlighted those countries, such as India and Brazil, with big populations and roles, are underrepresented in top UN organs.

Clearing all doubts about Indonesia’s global aspirations, foreign minister Sugiono has made it plain that under President Prabowo's leadership, “Indonesia will position itself on the world stage, in accordance with its dignity as a great nation, and as a trusted partner and good neighbour.”  

Finally, proponents of multipolarity may be well-advised to listen carefully to Prabowo’s messaging, and wherever possible, strongly support the Indonesian leader. If he succeeds, Prabowo can make a major contribution to consolidate the Islamic pole of a multipolar world, given Jakarta’s outstanding syncretic tradition. Despite being the world’s biggest Islamic nation, Indonesia, by keeping its national identity uppermost, has celebrated its co-existence with Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians that reside in significant numbers in the country. In doing so, it has established an inclusive Indonesian model of societal harmony, from which the rest of the world can learn and benefit.