Indonesia's Prabowo to Speak at UN General Assembly on First Day

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Every September, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) transforms New York into a hub for diplomacy, advocacy, political lobbying, and global celebrations. Not to mention, Midtown experiences heavy traffic.

As quoted from UNGA, the 80th session of UNGA will open on September 9 and conclude on September 30, 2025. During this period, world leaders will flock to Manhattan, either to try to quell global chaos or, conversely, to risk allowing instability to spread.

Similar to previous years, this meeting will be a crucial venue for presidents, prime ministers, and their entourages to meet or at least cross paths in the Turtle Bay area, near the East River.

Prabowo to Address the Assemblage on the First Day

The Head of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO), Hasan Nasbi, announced that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to deliver a speech on the first day of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States, on September 23, 2025.

Regarding the substance of the speech, Hasan explained that the PCO is currently unable to provide details, urging the public to wait and see the president at the international forum.

"The President is scheduled to speak on the first day, third in order on September 23," Hasan Nasbi responded to questions from journalists when he was approached at the PCO Office in Jakarta on Tuesday, August 26, in the evening, as quoted by Antara.

If Prabowo flies to New York in September, he will be the first Indonesian President to address the UNGA in a decade.

Throughout his term, the 7th President Joko Widodo has never personally attended the session and has always delegated the then-Foreign Minister, Retno L. P. Marsudi, to deliver Indonesia's statement.

During the upcoming 80th UN General Assembly session in September, Prabowo is scheduled to speak third, following the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and the President of the United States, Donald Trump.

Former Deputy Foreign Minister and Former Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the U.S., Dino Patti Djalal, believes that the third position in the speaking schedule holds significant diplomatic meaning.

"First, the diplomatic weight of this position has never occurred before, with the Indonesian President speaking third. If the first position is definitely held by the United States, it cannot be changed. Brazil will surely hold onto second place, as agreed. So, suddenly, it's Indonesia. This is something extraordinary, an extraordinary honor," said Dino Patti Djalal.

Considering Indonesia's practice of independent and active foreign policy, close ties with the West, involvement in the Global South, and close relationships with Eastern countries, he believes that President Prabowo's speech will attract global attention.

"Our legs are everywhere. So, what President Prabowo will convey will be closely observed, especially since we can see the disruptions between the West and BRICS, between America and China, and the Indo-Pacific is currently facing many upheavals, with multilateralism very weak. America's withdrawal from various multilateral bodies has caused underperformance in multilateralism," Dino Patti Djalal said.

Dino hopes that the speech can provide insight into the future direction of the world order and reaffirm the importance of multilateralism. "I think his speech at the UN will be closely watched and will hold great strategic value," he said.

The 80th session of the UN General Assembly will run until September 30, with the final agenda being the High-Level Conference on the Situation of Muslim Rohingyas and Other Minorities in Myanmar.

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