Indonesia’s New Foreign Minister Vows Continued Support for Palestine Until Independence

Jakarta, MINA – Indonesia’s new Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people until their rights are fulfilled and an independent and sovereign Palestinian state is established.

“Our constitution does not change. Indonesia will continue to stand with the Palestinian people until their rights are fulfilled and an independent and sovereign Palestinian state is realized,” Arrmanatha said during a press statement in Jakarta on Monday.

The minister, widely known as Tata, said Indonesia’s support for Palestine would continue through several priorities, including protecting the Palestinian people, delivering humanitarian assistance, supporting Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction, and strengthening the capacity of the Palestinian Authority.

He emphasized that these efforts require consistent diplomatic backing amid increasingly complex international developments.

Arrmanatha made the statement following the handover of the foreign minister’s office from Sugiono at the Pancasila Building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta on Monday, October 12.

Reflecting on the challenges facing Indonesian diplomacy, Tata said the past two years had been a difficult period for the country’s foreign policy, with growing geopolitical complexity and crises emerging across several regions.

Nevertheless, he stressed that Indonesia would maintain its independent and active foreign policy, known as bebas aktif, while remaining guided by the constitutional mandate.

“Amid all of this, Mr. Sugiono ensured that our foreign policy remains consistent with the principles of bebas aktif and the constitutional mandate. That is what I will continue,” he said.

Tata described the leadership transition at the Foreign Ministry as a new chapter in an ongoing story rather than the beginning of an entirely new book. He said the appointment of a new minister would not change the fundamental direction of Indonesian foreign policy.

“The minister may change, but Indonesia’s foreign policy direction does not. Our compass is not the personal preference of a minister, but the constitution,” he said.

His remarks reaffirm Indonesia’s longstanding position that Palestinian independence remains a central commitment of the country’s diplomacy. Indonesia has consistently advocated for Palestinian rights and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.

Arrmanatha was appointed foreign minister on October 1, 2026, replacing Sugiono in a Cabinet reshuffle. A career diplomat, he previously served as Indonesia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 2021 to 2024.

During his diplomatic career, he was involved in multilateral discussions on international issues, including Palestine. He also served as Vice President of the UN Economic and Social Council in 2023 and as Vice Chair of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in 2024 and 2025.

Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, has long supported Palestinian self-determination through diplomatic engagement, humanitarian assistance, and civil society initiatives. The country has also advocated for a two-state solution and respect for international law.

The new foreign minister’s statement signals continuity in Indonesia’s approach to Palestine under the new leadership of the Foreign Ministry. By maintaining its diplomatic support, humanitarian commitments, and focus on Gaza’s reconstruction, Indonesia intends to continue advocating for the realization of Palestinian rights and statehood.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)