Prabowo’s war on ‘foreign stooges’

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s repeated use of the term ‘foreign stooge’ to discredit critics reflects more than populist rhetoric. It draws on a deeply institutionalised worldview rooted in military doctrine, historical experience and Indonesia’s independence struggle. Indonesian defence policy has long framed foreign-backed subversion as a core threat, blurring the line between external interference and domestic dissent. As this narrative becomes embedded in policy and public discourse, it risks undermining democratic institutions by delegitimising independent criticism and increasing the costs of political opposition.