Istana Defends Prabowo Subianto's Frequent Foreign Trips

The government defended the frequency of President Prabowo Subianto's foreign visits, citing energy needs and investment diplomacy. Head of the Government Communications Agency Muhammad Qodari said global geopolitical conditions require Indonesia to actively build alliances and secure supplies for domestic needs. He said daily oil demand is about 1.6 million liters, with around 1 million liters still dependent on imports. For that reason, the president's trips are seen as important to maintain ties with oil-producing countries. Separately, Fadli Zon said direct diplomacy by a head of state speeds up decisions. He pointed to a bilateral meeting with the Emir of Qatar that, he said, led to an investment commitment worth US$4 billion, consisting of US$2 billion from Qatar and US$2 billion from Indonesia.