January 15, 2026 | 04:20 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia repatriated over 27,000 of its citizens from emergencies abroad in 2025, said Foreign Minister Sugiono.
"Throughout 2025, Indonesia brought home 27,768 citizens from various crisis situations, from armed conflicts to transnational crimes, such as online scams and illegal gambling," said Sugiono during annual press statement in Jakarta on Wednesday, January 14, as quoted from Antara.
According to Sugiono, Indonesia's foreign policy is driven by the needs of the people, national interests, and the state's responsibility to remain present in safeguarding its people.
The minister affirmed that citizen protection is a central pillar of Indonesia's diplomacy, in line with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution.
He also viewed the Foreign Ministry's efforts in protecting Indonesian citizens as a key measure of national resilience, reflecting how far the state is willing and able to defend its people.
“Diplomacy is a state instrument to ensure people are safe, prosperous and protected amid an increasingly uncertain global environment,” he said.
Sugiono said his ministry would continue strengthening protection mechanisms, including by expanding international cooperation and improving the readiness of Indonesian diplomatic missions to handle emergencies.
He added that the ministry would reinforce early warning systems to anticipate potential crises and further digitalize services for Indonesians living or working overseas.
Sugiono expressed appreciation to Indonesian embassies and consulates that played direct roles in securing the release of citizens, resolving legal and welfare cases, and arranging safe returns.
Indonesian Diaspora
The foreign minister also noted the importance of empowering the diaspora, highlighting their role as contributors of development and strategic assets for national resilience.
For this purpose, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formed a special diaspora unit to ensure more targeted and impactful diaspora policies, which includes a diaspora identification number and a unified diaspora data system.
"The goal is to ensure that the role of the Indonesian diaspora is recognized, valued, and optimized for national development," said Sugiono.
Read: Minister Sugiono Highlights Indonesia's Economic Diplomacy: QRIS, MBG
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