Can Indonesia’s Prabowo build rapport with Trump and stave off US protectionism?

The move by Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto to forge close ties with US president-elect Donald Trump is seen as crucial in pre-emptively shielding Southeast Asia’s largest economy given the Republican’s pro-protectionist stance.

Andreyka Natalegawa, associate fellow for the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C., said it was “critically important” for Prabowo and other Southeast Asian leaders to cultivate “positive personal relations” with Trump.

“Prabowo’s outreach to Trump should thus be seen as an attempt to set a positive and collaborative tone for Indonesia-US relations in advance of the president-elect’s inauguration in January,” Natalegawa said.

“Wherever you are, I’m willing to fly to congratulate you personally, Sir,” Prabowo said.