Washington, D.C. – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, United States, at 4:10 p.m. local time on Sunday, November 10, marking a continuation of his international tour following his recent visit to Beijing, China.

Upon his arrival in Washington, D.C., Prabowo was greeted by a delegation of high-ranking officials, including U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir, Indonesia’s Chargé d’Affaires in Washington, D.C. I Bagus Made Bimantara, Defense Attaché Marsma TNI Wisoko Aribowo, Head of Protocol and Consular Affairs Gustaav Ferdinandus, and Acting Chief of Protocol Ethan Rosenzweig.

Enthusiastic Indonesian expatriates, including students, professionals, and families living in the United States, also gathered to welcome Prabowo. The crowd, filled with excitement, waited for hours to see the president in person.

“Oh, it was incredible! My husband, friends, and I waited here for three hours. I even got to shake his hand, though I didn’t manage a selfie with him,” said Susan Togas, one of the Indonesian expatriates. “But I did snap a few selfies with Mas Didit [Prabowo’s son]. It was so exciting!”

Among the crowd, Indonesian students were notably vocal, cheering Prabowo’s name as he arrived at the hotel where he would be staying during his time in the U.S.

“Mr. Prabowo, can we get a picture?” students called out.

Prabowo greeted them warmly, taking the time to shake hands, chat briefly, and pose for photos.

“Are you students?” he asked, engaging with them personally.

The students admitted to feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness meeting Prabowo face-to-face for the first time.

“It’s pretty nerve-wracking, honestly. We’ve been waiting here to see him for the first time since he was inaugurated,” said Bella, a master’s student in Strategy, Cyber Security, and Intelligence at Johns Hopkins University.

Bella expressed hope that Prabowo’s U.S. visit would further strengthen Indonesia’s capabilities in cybersecurity and defense.

“Since my focus is on cybersecurity, I really hope that with Pak Prabowo’s background in defense, he’ll be able to elevate Indonesia’s cybersecurity measures. We need stronger capabilities to tackle cybersecurity issues effectively,” Bella added.

Another student, Zudika Siahaan, a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical Engineering at Johns Hopkins, shared Bella’s enthusiasm, despite the long wait.

“We started waiting around 3 p.m., and Pak Prabowo arrived around 5:30, so it was a two-hour wait, but it was worth it,” Zudika said. “I even got to ask him for a picture!”

Zudika shared his hopes for Prabowo’s visit, aspiring for Indonesian achievements in education and sports on the global stage.

“In the coming years, I hope Indonesia can produce achievements like winning an Oscar and see our national soccer team qualify for the World Cup. It would be incredible for Indonesia to stand out more in international arenas,” he said.

Another student, Muhammad Yusuf Atthariq Azof, studying for a Master’s in Biotechnology, expressed relief at seeing Prabowo safe and well.

“We’re so happy to welcome Pak Prabowo here in the U.S. Alhamdulillah, he arrived safely,” said Muhammad Yusuf.

Yusuf, who is focused on research in his studies, emphasized the importance of Indonesia’s advancement in research fields and the development of its research talent.

“I really hope Indonesia’s research community can grow stronger, and that more people will pursue advanced studies, especially in research. We need to increase our expertise and participation in this area,” he concluded. (RR)