in English Edition, Pilihan Redaksi
Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, with both its strengths and shortcomings.
WHEN I represented the foreign policy and diplomacy team of presidential candidate Prabowo-Sandi in a 2019 debate at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), I presented this theme as a key pillar of our campaign. In that debate, I went head-to-head with Meutya Hafid of the Golkar Party, representing the Jokowi-Ma’ruf Amin ticket.
I traveled to Yogyakarta with the late Ferry Mursidan Baldan and Sudirman Said, both of whom invited me for this task.
Fast forward to 9–15 April 2025, when President Prabowo Subianto made a tour of the Middle East and Turkey. Observers began speculating that the visit signaled Indonesia’s ambition to play a more prominent leadership role in the Muslim world, especially amid the urgent humanitarian crisis in Palestine.
During his nearly week-long tour covering the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan, Prabowo sought to articulate Indonesia’s stance as the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, particularly regarding the ongoing tragedy in Gaza.
Bilateral Outcomes: A Moment Without Vision?
Formally, the trip strengthened diplomatic ties with key nations in the region. In Abu Dhabi, discussions focused on economic and defense cooperation; in Cairo, on Gaza and educational collaboration; in Ankara and Amman, on bilateral agendas.
Yet substantively, the trip produced no concrete agreements indicating a new direction in Indonesia’s diplomacy within the Muslim world. The idea of Indonesia becoming the “Voice of the Muslim World” felt more rhetorical than a structured strategic pursuit.
Diplomacy Without a Script?
Prabowo’s speech to the Turkish Parliament stirred mixed reactions. His explicit praise for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey — a figure often viewed controversially in Islamic circles — drew criticism from segments of Indonesia’s Muslim community.
In Turkey, secular groups welcomed the remarks, but it sparked debate about the trajectory of Prabowo’s cultural diplomacy.
Indonesian social media was abuzz, with some expressing concern over Prabowo’s lack of caution when referencing figures deemed controversial both in Turkey and the broader Muslim world.
Further controversy arose from Prabowo’s announcement in Amman to relocate 1,000 Gazans to Indonesia. While lauded by some as a humanitarian gesture, others questioned its alignment with Indonesia’s anti-colonial principles enshrined in the Preamble of the 1945 Constitution.
Some even speculated that the move came amid trade negotiations with the United States under President Donald Trump, suggesting potential external pressure.
If Prabowo is serious about establishing himself as a leader in the Muslim world, he must show greater preparedness and avoid controversial themes. Every international trip should be carefully planned, both in substance and in political messaging.
Vision, Ambition, and Islamic World Diplomacy
Under both Jokowi and now Prabowo, Indonesia has yet to be recognized among the top ten most influential figures in the Islamic world.
In the 2025 edition of The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims, Prabowo was ranked 15th — lower than Jokowi, who had been ranked 13th. He joined figures like Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, and King Abdullah II of Jordan — all of whom hosted him on his April visit.
Why, then, has Indonesia not assumed leadership of the Islamic world? Many Indonesians, and Muslims abroad, ask: “What’s missing?”
Four Reasons Why Indonesia Has Yet to Lead the Muslim World:
1. Soft Power Over Hard Power
Indonesia’s strength lies in its soft power—rooted in diversity, tolerance, inclusivity, and compassion. Renowned for generosity, Indonesia has been ranked the world’s most generous country by the Charities Aid Foundation for seven consecutive years (2018–2024), with its World Giving Index score rising from 59 to a record 74. This social capital positions Indonesia well in areas like education, culture, and sustainable development. To amplify this, initiatives such as reviving the Istiqlal Festival into a global Islamic cultural event could showcase Indonesia’s Islamic heritage, halal industry, and intellectual discourse. However, in terms of hard power—economics and military—Indonesia remains a modest player, especially on Middle Eastern affairs.
2. Alternative Islamic Education
Indonesia’s pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) represent a rich, pluralistic educational tradition. These institutions could serve as models for Muslim populations in countries with similar or lower socio-economic conditions. More Indonesian scholars should be encouraged to contribute to global Islamic thought and academic discourse.
3. Non-Aligned and Peacebuilding Legacy
As a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Indonesia has a track record in conflict resolution, advocating for nuclear disarmament, peacekeeping, and South-South cooperation — all of which are relevant assets in global diplomacy.
4. Thought Leadership on Contemporary Islamic Issues
Indonesia needs to step up its leadership in conversations around Islamophobia, interfaith dialogue, and global socio-economic inequality.
Conclusion: From Rhetoric to Real Strategy
President Prabowo’s six-day tour of four key Muslim countries produced no breakthrough toward strengthening Indonesia’s position as a leader in the Islamic world.
If Indonesia truly wishes to become the “Voice of the Muslim World,” it must craft a clear roadmap and a structured foreign policy agenda. This should include active engagement with the OIC, advocacy for global justice, and bolstering domestic capacities in Islamic education, culture, and progressive thought on the world stage.
Jakarta, 22 April 2025
* Haz Pohan, Editor-in-Chief of Daily News Indonesia
SOURCE https://kbanews.com/english-edition/prabowo-indonesia-and-the-voice-of-the-muslim-world-2/
Categories: Asia, Indonesia, Islamic Unity, Muslims