Arrmanatha C. Nasir’s return as foreign minister (after Sugiono) is framed as a test of whether professional diplomacy can share work with Prabowo’s presidentialized foreign policy, not replace it; Nasir’s path includes spokesperson, ambassador to France, UN permanent representative, and deputy minister.

The stated tests are ASEAN (Myanmar, centrality vs. rival security setups), a wider East Asia hedge beyond big powers, and a more proactive Pacific policy tied to Papua perceptions, climate, and development partnerships.

The author wants a clearer split: the president sets direction; the ministry supplies analysis, options, and coordination so Indonesia does not send mixed messages.

The appointment of Arrmanatha C. Nasir as Foreign Minister of Indonesia was a major bureaucratic shift within Prabowo Subianto’s administration. Sugiono, Prabowo’s political appointee as Foreign Minister, was succeeded by Arrmanatha, who returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a wealth of experience. His appointment brings the focus back to whether professional diplomacy will regain a larger role in foreign policy within a highly presidentialized foreign policy apparatus. While bringing deep professional expertise to the post, his operational effectiveness depends on the scope of political latitude granted to the ministry to practice institutional diplomacy as opposed to merely supporting the foreign policy initiatives of the president and/or his administration while seeking to maintain policy coherence.

The long-standing foreign policy principle of ‘independent and active’ has enabled Indonesia to secure its strategic interests whilst maintaining constructive relations with the global community. Indeed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministry) has translated this principle into reality and conducted foreign policy on behalf of the President and Government. Under Prabowo’s leadership, however, foreign policy has become increasingly ‘presidential........

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