“President Prabowo’s decision not to attend the G7 forum is the best decision,” he said in a written statement released here on Friday.
He opined that the G7 member states’ support for Israel’s self-defence excuse for launching missile attacks at Iran, which they described as a “principal source of regional instability and terror,” vindicated Prabowo’s decision not to attend the forum.
Soeparno said that by not joining the meeting, President Prabowo has made a correct and strategic step in responding to the conflict escalation in the Middle East.
“It is a strategic and correct step that shows Indonesia’s perseverance in rejecting all forms of colonialism and attacks against other countries’ sovereignty,” the deputy speaker added.
Meanwhile, Prabowo’s decision to speak at the 2025 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) reflects Indonesia’s strategic position at the global level.
“His attendance in the 2025 SPIEF indicated Indonesia’s active economic diplomacy in facing the increasingly complex and dynamic global situation,” Soeparno said.
He added he is confident that Prabowo and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will discuss the best response to address the Israel-Palestine conflict and resolve the tensions in the Middle East.
“Moreover, President Prabowo is consistent with his free and active foreign policy and to fulfil the Constitutional mandate to oppose all forms of colonialism and oppression,” he said.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) head Hasan Nasbi earlier clarified that Prabowo’s absence from the G7 Summit should not be interpreted as his showing preference for a specific bloc or country.
He said that Prabowo had other important commitments, including state visits to Singapore and Russia, which “overlapped in timing” with the G7 Summit.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Sugiono said the attitude of the G7 countries, which have defended Israel over Iran, has only worsened the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“We did not expect this situation at all, and (the attitude) just worsened the situation. Once a war starts, we do not know when and how it will stop,” he added on Wednesday.
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Translator: Melalusa Susthira, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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