Can Minister Arrmanatha make Foreign Ministry great again?

Indonesian Minister Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir inherits a legacy from the Foreign Ministry, but his true challenge is to restore the ministry's authority in shaping the country's foreign policy. President Prabowo Subianto recently replaced his political appointee with a career diplomat as the new foreign minister. When I first met Minister Nasir at the 50th-anniversary commemoration of the Non-Aligned Movement in Bali in 2011, he was already articulate, confident, and proud of his diplomatic career.

He had risen through the ranks, becoming a director, spokesperson, ambassador to France and the United Nations, and deputy minister under Prabowo. Now, his appointment marks a generational shift within the ministry, as he is considerably junior to his predecessor, who belonged to the 12th diplomatic training class. This generation of diplomats had the experience, ambition, and confidence to articulate Indonesia's interests on its own terms.

Minister Nasir now faces the task of reviving the ministry's role in shaping Indonesia's foreign policy, as it has increasingly been influenced by the President's inner circle in recent years. Foreign policy ultimately remains the president's responsibility, but the challenge lies in ensuring that the institutions responsible for developing and executing policy are not replaced by the administrative channels.