Missed Opportunity for Symbolic Autonomy — Indonesia’s decision to send only an ambassador (instead of President Prabowo) to Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral was procedurally correct but missed a chance to demonstrate bold independent and active (bebas dan aktif) foreign policy. This risks portraying Indonesia as overly cautious and influenced by Western pressure.

Strategic Dilemma for Middle Powers — The absence highlights the tension between diplomatic caution (risk management) and symbolic action. While avoiding entanglement in a highly polarized event, it may undermine Indonesia’s image as an assertive middle power and strategic partner to Iran (Islamic solidarity, energy, trade).

Implications for Indonesia’s Foreign Policy Identity — The choice raises questions about how Indonesia translates its non-aligned doctrine into practice amid great-power rivalries. Future handling of similar high-profile events will shape global perceptions of Indonesia’s autonomy and credibility.

The absence of President Prabowo Subianto at the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran in July 2026 highlights the conflict between Indonesia’s foreign policy practices of diplomatic caution and symbolic foreign policy action. Indonesia’s decision to send an ambassador instead of the President to the funeral of Iran’s supreme leader fulfilled the basic protocol of attendance at the funeral of a head of state. However, the absence of the President of Indonesia could have been more powerfully used to demonstrate Indonesia’s commitment to an independent foreign policy, its ability to resist external pressure, and recognition of Iran as a strategic partner of Indonesia. The decision not to send the President of Indonesia to the funeral of the supreme leader of Iran instead highlights the risk management practices of a middle power and its strategic dilemma between symbolic foreign policy action and its risks.

The funeral of the Iranian leader had become a highly politicised event. The international profile of Iran is today highly polarised. It has found itself under........

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