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Jokowi promises little change in foreign policy in second term
But staying true to his low-profile and cautious style of governing, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has said that he would not make significant changes in how he would deal with international politics during his second term, and that his main focus for the next five years would remain domestic issues at home.
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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo greets people who queued since early in the morning at the National Monument (Monas) square in Central Jakarta to attend the President’s Idul Fitri open house event on June 5. (kompas.com/Fabian Januarius Kuwado)
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second term in office usually gives an incumbent head of state the freedom to be more active internationally and pursue a grander foreign policy agenda.
But staying true to his low-profile and cautious style of governing, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has said that he would not make significant changes in how he would deal with international politics during his second term, and that his main focus for the next five years would remain domestic issues at home.
In response to a question from The Jakarta Post on Tuesday on whether he planned to play a greater role in directly leading the country’s diplomatic efforts in his final term in office, Jokowi answered, “The thing is, there are much more pressing domestic issues [that needs to be dealt with],”
"I think domestic [affairs] requires more attention,” Jokowi said.
However, Jokowi, who will likely be sworn in for a second term in October, said he would continue to be engaged in several major international forums, such as the G20 and ASEAN summits.
Jokowi is expected to leave for Osaka, Japan, later this month for a crucial G20 summit. United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are also scheduled to attend the summit.
As for other international summits, Jokowi maintained that Indonesia would continue to play a part, even when he was absent. “For [other] international [meetings], we will continue to send teams [of delegates], including those who handle investment, exports and economic affairs. Both small and big teams,” he said.
