Prabowo Subianto to deliver UN General Assembly debut, third in speaker lineup on Sept 23.
President Prabowo Subianto is set to address the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 23, 2025, marking Indonesia’s first in-person presidential speech at the forum in ten years.
Indonesia Returns to UNGA Stage
Prabowo will speak on the opening day of the General Debate, taking the podium as the third world leader after Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and U.S. President Donald Trump. His speech comes at a historic moment, as Indonesia reclaims its presence at the UNGA after a decade-long absence at the presidential level.
During former President Joko Widodo’s decade-long administration, Indonesia was represented by Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi. Jokowi only addressed the UNGA virtually in 2020 during the pandemic.
Diplomatic Weight of the Address
Hasan Nasbi, head of the Presidential Communications Office, confirmed Prabowo’s schedule but did not disclose the speech’s content. The high-profile placement, however, signals Indonesia’s growing diplomatic weight.
Former Deputy Foreign Minister and ex-U.S. Ambassador Dino Patti Djalal called the opportunity “an extraordinary honor,” noting that Indonesia has never spoken this early in the lineup.
Unique Global Position
Dino emphasized Indonesia’s unique standing: a non-aligned nation, close to the West, a member of the Global South, and maintaining strong ties to Asia. “What President Prabowo says will be closely watched by many countries,” he remarked.
He also urged Prabowo to stress the importance of multilateralism amid global tensions, including U.S.-China rivalry, BRICS dynamics, and weakening international institutions.
UNGA 2025 Theme and Agenda
This year’s 80th UNGA carries the theme “Together Better: 80 Years and Beyond for Peace, Development and Human Rights.” The General Debate will run from September 23–27 and continue on September 29.
The session will close on September 30 with a high-level conference addressing the plight of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar—another issue in which Indonesia has historically played an active role.
Broader Context for Indonesia
Indonesia’s re-engagement at the presidential level underscores Prabowo’s intent to boost the country’s global profile. Analysts see the speech as an opportunity for Indonesia to highlight its diplomatic principles of independence and active engagement while balancing major power rivalries.
Prabowo’s upcoming UNGA address is not just symbolic—it repositions Indonesia as a visible voice in multilateral diplomacy after a decade-long absence. For both Indonesians and the international community, his words could shape perceptions of the nation’s role in tackling pressing global issues, from geopolitical tensions to humanitarian crises.
Sources: Gokepri (2025) , Bloomberg Technoz (2025)
Keywords: Prabowo Subianto UN Speech, Indonesia UN General Assembly, UNGA 2025, Indonesia Diplomacy, Multilateralism, Global Politics
