in Editor’s Choice , Resonance
Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world with its various advantages and disadvantages.
WHEN I appeared as the foreign policy and diplomacy team of the 2019 Prabowo-Sandi presidential campaign at Gajah Mada University (UGM), I presented this theme as a superior substance. In the debate event, I faced Meutya Hafid representing the Jokowi-Makruf Amin team. I went to Yogya with Ferry Mursidan Baldan (the late) and Sudirman Said, both of whom called me for this assignment.
When President Prabowo Subianto visited the Middle East and Turkey, 9–15 April 2025, observers discussed that the visit reflected Indonesia’s ambition to take a more active role in Islamic world issues, especially regarding Palestine.
During a nearly week-long tour that included the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey and Jordan, Prabowo tried to articulate Indonesia’s position as the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, especially in responding to the humanitarian tragedy taking place in Gaza.
Bilateral Visit Results: Momentum Without Vision?
In terms of diplomatic formalities, Prabowo’s visit succeeded in strengthening bilateral relations with key countries in the region: in Abu Dhabi, discussing economic and defense cooperation, in Cairo, discussing the Gaza issue and educational collaboration, in Ankara discussing several bilateral agendas, as well as in Amman.
However, in terms of substance, there is no concrete agreement indicating a new direction for Indonesian diplomacy in the Islamic world. The discourse of Indonesia becoming the “Voice of the Muslim World” sounds more like rhetoric than a structured strategy.
Unscripted Diplomacy?
Prabowo’s speech in the Turkish parliament has drawn mixed reactions. His explicit praise of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey who is also known as a controversial figure in the Islamic context, has drawn criticism from some Islamists in Indonesia.
In Turkey itself, the statement was welcomed positively by secular groups but also sparked discussion about the direction of Prabowo’s cultural diplomacy.
The Indonesian social media world also highlighted the Kemal Ataturk issue, and some regretted why Prabowo was not careful in the paragraph that referred to the controversial figure both in Turkey and in the Islamic world.
In addition, the plan to relocate 1,000 Gazans to Indonesia, announced by Prabowo in Amman, raises a constitutional dilemma. On the one hand, the relocation is seen as a humanitarian act; on the other hand, it is interpreted by some as a form of ignoring the anti-colonial principle contained in the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution.
This discourse is also inseparable from the alleged pressure from US President Donald Trump, who is in the process of negotiating trade tariffs with Indonesia.
Going forward, if Prabowo wants to establish himself as a leader in the Islamic World, he must appear more prepared and avoid controversial themes. Every foreign visit must be prepared carefully in both substance and political aspects.
Vision, Ambition and Diplomacy of the Islamic World
From the time of Jokowi to now Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia has never been included in the 10 most important figures in the Islamic world.
President Prabowo Subianto was named the 15th most influential Muslim figure in the world, out of 500 figures from various Islamic countries, in 2025, down from Jokowi’s previous position of 13th.
This assessment was published in the publication The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims 2025, together with Erdogan of Turkey, Abdul Fattah Said Hussein Khalil as-Sisi of Egypt, and King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein Al-Hashemi of Jordan. These three figures — along with the leader of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — hosted Prabowo on this overseas visit.
Why has Indonesia never been a leader in the Islamic World? “What is lacking?” asked the public in the country.
Likewise in the international world, Muslims in Muslim countries also have the same question. They consider Indonesia worthy of leading the Islamic World. Therefore, when Prabowo won the presidential election, the world speculated that perhaps in this era that position could be achieved by an Indonesian leader.
There are several factors why Indonesia has not succeeded in becoming a leader of the Islamic world.
First, Indonesia has never appeared as a leader in discussing political issues to fight for Islamic interests. Indeed, Indonesia is an active member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), but we do not have a strong ‘political clout’ because Indonesia is not part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) or the Arab League, two large regional organizations that also have an impact on the African Union.
Second, in the Middle East region, dubbed ‘the mother of international conflicts’, it is not an easy region for Indonesia. This region is a very complex arena, full of sectarian conflicts, geopolitics, and rivalry between regional powers – the presence of 4 competing powers: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel – so that it has the potential to ignite a global war involving alliances outside the region.
Third, Indonesia does not have significant military or economic power like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, or Iran. Our defense still adheres to the ‘minimum essential force’ which is only to defend ourselves if attacked.
Fourth, from the perspective of mainstream Islamic thinkers, Indonesian Islamic intellectuals are not yet widely known to be used as references in studies on Islam.
Clearly, from a political, military-economic and Islamic perspective, Indonesia is not yet a significant power.
Soft Power
Then, the next question. If so, where can Indonesia play a role and gain world recognition to become a leader in the Islamic World?
In fact, Indonesia has had a global vision as a theme of soft-power diplomacy. The sixth President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) stated that Indonesia could be an example as a country where Islam, development, and democracy go hand in hand.
Indonesia has the capital to be an example of a Muslim country with a diverse, democratic, tolerant culture and people who care deeply about each other.
In my opinion, Indonesia currently has large and significant soft power, surpassing other Muslim countries.
First, Indonesia is known to the world as a Muslim country with the most tolerant, inclusive and caring culture. It is time for Indonesia to hold an ‘international Islamic festival’ every year inviting Islamic countries to participate in the festival and exhibition of historical objects, fashion, culinary and seminars for scholars. This tradition was once carried out in the Istiqlal Festival in the past, only expanded.
Second, Indonesia has a wealth of experience in providing alternative education—with the support of its ulama and its people—namely the diverse pesantren tradition. This alternative model is worthy of being introduced for the education of Muslim populations in countries with socio-economic conditions like Indonesia or lower.
Third, as one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Indonesia also has a good reputation in conflict resolution, both in encouraging peaceful resolution and nuclear weapons reduction, and peace-keeping forces, as well as in South-South economic cooperation.
Fourth, Indonesia needs to increase its pioneering role in discourse, such as Islamophobia, inter-religious dialogue, and global socio-economic injustice.
Conclusion: from Rhetoric to Real Strategy
President Prabowo’s six-day visit to four strategic Islamic countries did not produce significant results in strengthening Indonesia’s position as a leader of the Islamic world.
If Indonesia truly wants to become the “Voice of the Muslim World”, then it is necessary to prepare a more structured roadmap and foreign policy agenda. The agenda must include an active role in the OIC, advocacy of global justice issues, and strengthening domestic capacity in the fields of education, culture, and progressive and inclusive Islamic intellectuals. At the global level.
Jakarta, April 22, 2025
* Haz Pohan, Editor-in-Chief of ‘Daily News Indonesia
source https://kbanews.com/resonansi/prabowo-indonesia-and-the-voice-of-the-muslim-world/