The appointment marks a significant shift in Jakarta’s diplomatic leadership, bringing a senior multilateral figure to the top of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Alongside Nasir, fellow deputy foreign ministers Muhammad Anis Matta and Arif Havas Oegroseno were also inaugurated, signaling a broader reorganization of the ministry’s leadership team.
Nasir, known professionally as Tata, is 54 years old and began his diplomatic service in 1997. He served as a deputy foreign minister under Sugiono prior to his elevation to the top post. His career is defined by high-level engagements in international institutions, particularly at the UN in New York.
Before his domestic ministerial roles, Nasir served as Indonesia’s permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in New York from 2021. During his tenure, he held the vice presidency of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2023 and chaired its Coordination Segment. He also became Indonesia’s first permanent representative to the International Seabed Authority. Earlier in his career, he served as Indonesia’s ambassador to France, Andorra, and Monaco, as well as its permanent delegate to UNESCO, from 2019 to 2021.
Nasir’s diplomatic background includes roles in economic and development negotiations. From 2008 to 2012, he represented Indonesia at its Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, focusing on the UN General Assembly’s Second Committee and ECOSOC. He also represented the Group of 77 and China in various resolution negotiations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Buckingham, an MBA from the University of Leicester, and a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Indonesia.
The outgoing foreign minister, Sugiono, has been appointed as the coordinating minister for human development and culture. Sugiono, who also serves as the secretary-general of Prabowo’s Gerindra party, recently addressed the UN General Assembly, where he called for an end to colonialism and described Palestine as a “test of conscience” for the international community. His removal from the foreign portfolio follows a period in which Indonesia emphasized multilateral diplomacy and an independent, active foreign policy, a stance Prabowo reiterated in June 2026.
Nasir’s appointment is part of a wider cabinet reshuffle that includes other significant personnel changes. Last week, President Prabowo appointed Dudung Abdurachman as coordinating minister for political and security affairs and Suyudi Ario Seto as the new national police chief. The previous police chief, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, was appointed head of the presidential administration. These changes follow the recent dismissal of finance minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa on September 14, who was replaced by his deputy, Suahasil Nazara. That financial reshuffle was viewed by investors as a move to restore confidence in the $1.5 trillion G20 economy after a period of policy uncertainty.
The new leadership is expected to continue Indonesia’s focus on strengthening international cooperation. In recent months, Nasir has represented Indonesia in regional and bilateral engagements, including ASEAN-EU ministerial discussions. The transition aims to leverage Nasir’s deep institutional knowledge of UN mechanisms and multilateral frameworks to advance Indonesia’s diplomatic objectives in the coming years.
