{
  "id": 14822216,
  "title": "Foreign Ministry back in the driver's seat, but not alone",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/foreign-ministry-back-in-the-drivers-seat-but-not-alone",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T00:07:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Jakarta Post",
    "slug": "the-jakarta-post",
    "url": "https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2026/10/16/foreign-ministry-back-in-the-drivers-seat-but-not-alone.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indonesia's Foreign Ministry is regaining its position as the lead player in shaping the nation's foreign policy, according to recent developments. The appointment of Arrmanatha Nasir as foreign minister underscores this shift, bringing diplomats back to the forefront after two years when President Prabowo Subianto seemed to steer international affairs more personally.\n\nPrabowo's tenure upended norms, with foreign policy often appearing to emanate directly from the Presidential Palace. Diplomats recall initiatives that bore a personal touch, leaving many in Indonesia's diplomatic circles perplexed by the lack of a coherent strategy or long-term roadmap.\n\nDespite Prabowo's evident understanding of geopolitics, rooted in his background as a former Army general and defense minister, his approach differs from that of diplomats. Prabowo sees the world through a strategic and security lens, favoring negotiation and consensus-building. Diplomats, on the other hand, are trained to view international relations through the prism of multilateralism and consensus.\n\nThis divide is not solely about competence or inexperience but reflects different institutional cultures and professional experiences. The debate over Indonesia's path to independence—whether through battlefield struggle or negotiation—echoes the ongoing tension between these two perspectives.\n\nFor Jakarta's diplomatic community, Prabowo's appointment signals a return to normalcy after a period marked by Prabowo's direct involvement in foreign policy. The hope is that with trusted diplomats back at the helm, Indonesia can navigate today's volatile geopolitical landscape more effectively.",
  "summary": "Arrmanatha’s appointment puts diplomats back in the driver’s seat of Indonesian foreign policy, but navigating today’s volatile geopolitical landscape requires soldiers, economists and the Palace to chart the course together.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Foreign Affairs Ministry asks Auditor-General to audit evacuations since 2017",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/foreign-affairs-ministry-asks-auditor-general-to-audit-evacuations",
        "published": "2026-10-15T20:58:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}