Rather than President Prabowo Subianto traveling to Singapore, it was Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong who flew to Jakarta on July 6, 2026, bringing five ministers with him for the second annual Indonesia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat, hosted at Merdeka Palace. What is the important result from this meeting? The first retreat under this format took place […]
Indonesian Economist Chatib Basri explains why Indonesia’s 2026 economy isn’t a repeat of 1998, why the rupiah is under pressure, and why fiscal confidence — not geopolitics — is the real risk to watch. As the rupiah slips past Rp18,000 to the US dollar, one name keeps surfacing in Indonesia’s economic conversation: Chatib Basri. The
Indonesia’s Attorney General arrested the head and two former deputy heads of the National Nutrition Agency on Wednesday on corruption charges — exposing an alleged scheme of shell foundations, rigged procurement, and price inflation at the very center of President Prabowo’s flagship free nutritious meals program. JAKARTA — Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office arrested the head
In weighing The Economist’s reporting on Indonesia and President Prabowo’s administration, we attempt a fair and balanced analysis of the statements and responses involved. On May 14, 2026, The Economist simultaneously published two major articles, both focusing on Indonesia and President Prabowo Subianto. The two pieces were titled “Indonesia’s President Is Jeopardising the Economy and
Weighing The Economist’s Coverage of Indonesia and the Prabowo Administration Read More »
Among the political thinkers that modern Indonesia has produced, few have been as systematic in articulating a democratic governing philosophy as Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. SBY offers a philosophical framework in a trilogy: liberty, prosperity, and security. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono — widely known as SBY — served as the sixth President of the Republic of Indonesia
JAKARTA — In the lexicon of Indonesian power, few names carry as much weight — or as much controversy — as Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad. Better known as Haji Isam, this 48-year-old tycoon from the forests of South Kalimantan has become the defining face of a new Indonesian oligarchy: a class of businessmen who have turned
When Prabowo Subianto won Indonesia’s 2024 presidential election, one campaign promise stood out more than any other: free nutritious meals program for schoolchildren. It sounded simple, almost disarmingly populist. Yet behind the promise, lies one of the most complex and ambitious social policy experiments in modern Indonesia. Launched in January 2025, the Free Nutritious Meals
Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals Program and the Leadership Test for Prabowo Read More »
Three soldiers of the Garuda Contingent were killed in Lebanon within 24 hours. This incident is not merely a national tragedy—it exposes the deepest contradiction in Indonesia’s diplomacy: Indonesia is in The Board of Peace, sponsored by a country accused of killing its own soldiers. Saturday night, March 29, 2026. At a guard post near
Iran has absorbed several waves of large-scale strikes and still retains asymmetric retaliation capacity; Iran military capabilities is degraded but not collapsed. Every conventional strike that fails to end the regime, reinforces Iran’s nuclear justification – making this the most important variable to consider. Two waves of large-scale airstrikes launched by the United States and
Indonesia is rolling out the red carpet for foreign capital with a mix of tax holidays, simplified licensing, and a digital-first strategy. Tourism investment in Indonesia is one of the most compelling tourism stories for 2026 and beyond. Indonesia is no longer just counting tourists; it’s counting on quality. As the nation eyes an ambitious
Tourism Investment in Indonesia: Indonesia’s $13 Billion Invitation to Global Investors Read More »
