Too close to Trump: How Indonesian President Prabowo gambles sovereignty, humanity for US’ approval
- Written by Karina Utami Dewi, Dosen Jurusan Hubungan Internasional, Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) Yogyakarta
The Indonesian public has grown increasingly uneasy with President Prabowo Subianto’s foreign policy pivot toward the United States. From Indonesia’s decision to join the Board of Peace (BoP)[1] initiated by Donald Trump to the signing of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART)[2] on February 19, 2026, the trajectory is clear: Jakarta is tilting towards Washington at a cost many fear will be borne by ordinary Indonesians.
Prabowo once framed his diplomacy as rooted in resilience[3], autonomy, and national interests. However, in practice, his recent manoeuvres suggest a readiness to align closely with Trump’s agenda[4], even if it means diluting Indonesia’s bargaining position.
Prabowo’s efforts to draw Indonesia closer to the US under the Trump’s administration raise serious doubts about his underlying motives. Rather than clearly advancing long-term national interests, these efforts appear driven by transactional calculations and short-term gains.
Rehabilitating personal image at the public expense
Prabowo was barred from entering the US for a decade over alleged human rights violations tied to 1998. The ban was lifted in 2020[5] when he served as Indonesian Defence Minister during which Trump first served his tenure.
The lifting of the ban drew harsh criticism from human rights groups such as Amnesty International[6] for providing impunity over the violations he was accused of. It was also condemned by prominent US lawmakers like Senator Patrick Leahy[7], author of the US human rights legislation known as the Leahy Law[8], who stated Prabowo was legally ineligible to enter the country.
Today, his closeness to Trump signals more than diplomacy. Rather, it also suggests a personal redemption arc playing out on the global stage – from a figure who was once rejected by Washington to one who now stands shoulder to shoulder with the White House.
Trump’s public praise of Prabowo as a “tough” leader[11] at the BoP Summit was symbolically powerful.
What is unfolding looks less like statecraft and more like image management. Indonesia’s foreign policy appears to be repurposed as a vehicle to polish Prabowo’s international standing.
Trump and Prabowo: transactional power over principles
Trump’s foreign policy stance is defined by transactional deals and loyalty politics, moving far from human rights issues or democratic values, which were previously the main guidelines for his predecessors in conducting foreign policy[12]. Prabowo’s leadership style appears strikingly compatible.
In international relations, transactionalism or transactional diplomacy refers to a strategy that prioritises short-term gains and treats statecraft much like a business deal[15]. It favours bilateral over multilateral agreements[16], with a tendency towards a zero-sum world view, disregarding value-based policy-making and longer-term strategic diplomatic goals.
Eric Jones writes in The Jakarta Post that Prabowo-Trump relationship reflects a “strongman’s mirror”[17] – a psychological and political alignment between two leaders who view power as something personalised, not institutional. Trump relies on loyalty and patronage, while Prabowo appears comfortable with similar transactional logic. Both project a performative, personality-driven style of leadership.
This model could work to Prabowo’s advantage. Under Trump, lingering human rights concerns regarding Prabowo are no longer a diplomatic obstacle. The recent trade agreement, which reduces Indonesia’s export tariffs to the US from 32% to 19%[18], could even be framed as a quick diplomatic win for Prabowo, in line with transactional diplomacy’s emphasis on tangible, immediate outcomes.
The compatibility between Trump’s and Prabowo’s leadership styles could therefore produce smoother, more flexible ties than if the US were led by an administration that prioritises institutional norms and liberal values.
A risky departure from Indonesia’s free-and-active tradition
Indonesia’s long-standing “free-and-active” (bebas-aktif) foreign policy[19] has defined its identity since independence and emphasised strategic autonomy amid great-power rivalry[20]. For many Indonesians, Prabowo’s alignment with Trump’s transactional approach has drawn criticism and anger, as it signals a shift away from that principle and may erode diplomatic independence[21].
The decision to join the Board of Peace has also sparked concerns over potentially weakening Indonesia’s position as one of the first countries to support Palestinian independence[22].
No deals at the cost of sovereignty
Closer ties with the US under Trump’s controversial leadership do not automatically betray Indonesia’s national interest. However, overreliance on transactionalism, at the expense of enduring principles, risks making the relationship volatile. The recent pushback by the US Supreme Court against Trump’s tariff policy[23] shows how quickly US policy can change.
Indonesia’s real strength lies not in personal ties to certain leaders, but in its consistency in maintaining autonomy and balance. Its free-and-active politics is a strategic asset, not a slogan to be traded for short-term legitimacy at the cost of credibility and sovereignty.
References
- ^ Indonesia’s decision to join the Board of Peace (BoP) (fulcrum.sg)
- ^ the signing of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) (www.idnfinancials.com)
- ^ framed his diplomacy as rooted in resilience (eastasiaforum.org)
- ^ align closely with Trump’s agenda (www.bbc.com)
- ^ The ban was lifted in 2020 (www.reuters.com)
- ^ Amnesty International (www.amnestyusa.org)
- ^ Senator Patrick Leahy (www.voanews.com)
- ^ Leahy Law (www.state.gov)
- ^ Muchlis Jr/Biro Pers Sekretariat Presiden (presidenri.go.id)
- ^ CC BY (creativecommons.org)
- ^ “tough” leader (en.tempo.co)
- ^ his predecessors in conducting foreign policy (www.foreignaffairs.com)
- ^ Ministry of State Secretary of the Republic of Indonesia (www.setneg.go.id)
- ^ CC BY (creativecommons.org)
- ^ that prioritises short-term gains and treats statecraft much like a business deal (www.diplomacy.edu)
- ^ favours bilateral over multilateral agreements (www.tandfonline.com)
- ^ a “strongman’s mirror” (www.thejakartapost.com)
- ^ reduces Indonesia’s export tariffs to the US from 32% to 19% (www.reuters.com)
- ^ “free-and-active” (bebas-aktif) foreign policy (kemlu.go.id)
- ^ strategic autonomy amid great-power rivalry (lmsspada.kemdiktisaintek.go.id)
- ^ erode diplomatic independence (www.internationalaffairs.org.au)
- ^ the first countries to support Palestinian independence (internasional.kompas.com)
- ^ The recent pushback by the US Supreme Court against Trump’s tariff policy (www.nytimes.com)
Authors: Karina Utami Dewi, Dosen Jurusan Hubungan Internasional, Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) Yogyakarta
