Can Indonesia’s Prabowo build rapport with Trump and stave off US protectionism?

Concerns about Indonesia’s economy have emerged given Donald Trump’s distrust of multilateralism and climate change policies

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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto shakes hands with US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 12:00pm, 14 Nov 2024Updated: 1:12pm, 15 Nov 2024

The move by Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto to forge close ties with US president-elect Donald Trump is seen as crucial in pre-emptively shielding Southeast Asia’s largest economy given the Republican’s pro-protectionist stance.

Andreyka Natalegawa, associate fellow for the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C., said it was “critically important” for Prabowo and other Southeast Asian leaders to cultivate “positive personal relations” with Trump.

“Prabowo’s outreach to Trump should thus be seen as an attempt to set a positive and collaborative tone for Indonesia-US relations in advance of the president-elect’s inauguration in January,” Natalegawa said.

In a phone call on Monday, Prabowo expressed his desire to meet Trump during his three-day state visit to the United States.

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Trump showers praise on Indonesia’s Prabowo during congratulatory call

“Wherever you are, I’m willing to fly to congratulate you personally, Sir,” Prabowo said.