Indonesian president appoints new foreign minister

Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto has appointed Arrmanatha Nasir as the new foreign minister, replacing Sugiono, according to AFP. This move marks a significant shake-up at the Indonesian foreign ministry, following Prabowo's recent cabinet reshuffle. Nasir, a career diplomat and former permanent representative to the UN in New York, succeeded Sugiono, who was appointed as the human development minister.

The appointment of Nasir, Sugiono's deputy, is anticipated to bring about substantial changes within the ministry. This development comes in the wake of Prabowo's earlier dismissal of his finance minister, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, on September 14, who was replaced by his deputy, Suahasil Nazara. The finance minister's removal has been viewed positively by investors, potentially restoring confidence in the US$1.5 trillion G20 economy following a period of uncertain policymaking.

Analysts have noted that Sugiono's role in the foreign ministry had been minimized as Prabowo increasingly assumed a more dominant position in foreign policy. Sugiono, who was not a diplomat and belonged to Prabowo's Gerindra party, had overseen significant foreign policy initiatives such as Indonesia's entry into BRICS and Jakarta's participation in the US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace initiative for Gaza. The country also pledged troops to a proposed international stabilisation force for Gaza.