Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya has asserted that President Prabowo Subianto personally contributes to the costs of his official overseas travels. Wijaya explained that should the expenses for these trips exceed the allocated state budget, President Prabowo would personally cover the surplus from his own funds.
“Therefore, any excess costs beyond what has been budgeted by the state are fully borne by President Prabowo personally,” Teddy stated in a video clarification released on Monday, June 1, 2026.
Furthermore, Teddy claimed that the size of the presidential entourage for international visits has significantly decreased during President Prabowo’s tenure compared to previous administrations. He noted that the current state delegation numbers only half of what was seen under former presidents.
Teddy elaborated that presidential delegations on overseas visits before Prabowo’s presidency could often exceed 120 individuals. “Under President Prabowo, the number ranges between 50 and 60 people at most. Many are already aware of this, including journalists,” he added.
However, in his statement, Teddy did not specify the exact budget allocated by the state for President Prabowo’s foreign trips. He also did not disclose the amount of personal funds President Prabowo has contributed to cover the additional expenses for these international travels.
The military officer, holding the rank of lieutenant colonel, issued this clarification in response to critiques from Dino Patti Djalal, founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI). Dino had previously offered five recommendations to President Prabowo, who has faced criticism for his frequent international engagements.
In a video uploaded to his Instagram account, @dinopattidjalal, Dino conveyed that many Indonesians have urged President Prabowo to substantially reduce the frequency of his overseas trips and to not dismiss these public concerns lightly.
“In our assessment, among all world leaders, President Prabowo has emerged as the head of state who travels abroad most frequently,” Dino remarked, highlighting the intensity of the President’s foreign visits.
The former Deputy Foreign Minister also pointed out that a single presidential trip abroad can incur costs ranging from tens to hundreds of billions of rupiah. These substantial expenses encompass various components, including the advance team, air travel, accommodation, logistics, catering, protocol and security arrangements, daily allowances for the entire delegation and supporting staff, as well well as numerous other miscellaneous expenditures.
“Overseas visits by a head of state demand considerable, indeed very substantial, financial outlays,” concluded the former Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the United States, underscoring the significant economic impact of such diplomatic endeavors.
Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to this article.
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Summary
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya confirmed that President Prabowo Subianto personally covers any excess costs for his official overseas trips that exceed the state budget. Additionally, Teddy highlighted that the size of presidential delegations under the current administration has been reduced significantly, now ranging from 50 to 60 people compared to over 120 in previous terms.
This clarification follows public criticism, notably from Dino Patti Djalal, regarding the frequency and high financial cost of the President’s international engagements. While defending the efficiency of these visits, Teddy did not disclose specific budgetary figures or the exact amount of personal funds contributed by the President.