Former Deputy Foreign Minister Dino Patti Djalal has raised concerns regarding the high frequency of President Prabowo Subianto’s overseas trips since taking office. Amid public scrutiny over the substantial state budget required for these diplomatic missions, Dino has urged the government to prioritize more cost-effective communication methods, such as video conferencing.
Through a video posted on his Instagram account, @dinopattidjalal, on Saturday (30/5), Dino highlighted that President Prabowo is currently one of the world’s most frequent travelers among heads of state. According to his calculations, the President has spent one out of every six days abroad since his inauguration. Dino noted that this intensity is viewed by many as unconventional and potentially excessive.
Dino emphasized the significant financial burden associated with these state visits. These costs, he explained, encompass a wide array of expenses including advance teams, private aircraft, luxury accommodation, logistics, catering, protocol, security, and daily allowances for the delegation. “A single overseas trip can cost tens or even hundreds of billions of rupiah,” he stated.
To address these fiscal concerns, Dino proposed five strategic recommendations for the government. First, he advocated for the increased use of video calls or telephone diplomacy to maintain international relations. He argued that since most bilateral meetings only involve core discussions lasting one to two hours—with the remainder dedicated to ceremonial events—conducting these via video call could save the state hundreds of billions of rupiah. He pointed to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has conducted 17 phone calls with U.S. President Donald Trump without the need for a physical bilateral summit, despite the U.S. being Mexico’s largest trading partner.
Second, Dino suggested that when the President does attend international forums, the visits should be maximized by holding meetings with multiple world leaders present at the event. He proposed a “1 plus 8” formula, where every international trip is leveraged to conduct sideline meetings with at least eight other heads of state.
Third, Dino urged for more professional planning and transparency regarding the President’s international itinerary. He observed that several recent trips were carried out with minimal public information, suggesting that clearer communication would foster better public understanding.
Fourth, he recommended that President Prabowo host more state guests in Indonesia rather than traveling abroad himself. He cited Chinese President Xi Jinping’s approach, noting that Beijing frequently serves as a hub for hosting diplomatic counterparts, which minimizes the need for the leader to travel constantly.
Finally, Dino advised that tactical diplomatic missions should increasingly be delegated to Foreign Minister Sugiono. By empowering the Foreign Minister to handle specific international agendas, the state could significantly reduce the frequency of the President’s travels and, consequently, lower overall state expenditures.
Summary
Former Deputy Foreign Minister Dino Patti Djalal has expressed concerns regarding the high frequency of President Prabowo Subianto’s overseas trips, noting that the President has spent approximately one-sixth of his time abroad since his inauguration. Dino highlighted the significant financial burden these diplomatic missions impose on the state budget, which covers expenses for security, logistics, and luxury accommodations. He argued that the current intensity of travel is unconventional and potentially excessive for the government to maintain.
To reduce fiscal strain, Dino recommended that the government prioritize video conferencing for bilateral meetings and adopt a more efficient “1 plus 8” strategy when attending international forums. Furthermore, he urged for greater transparency in scheduling, suggested hosting more state guests domestically to minimize presidential travel, and advised delegating more tactical diplomatic responsibilities to Foreign Minister Sugiono. These measures aim to maintain strong international relations while significantly lowering overall state expenditures.