Washington, D.C. — Hundreds of Indonesian expatriates in the United States gathered with enthusiasm, joy, and high hopes to welcome Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto upon his arrival in Washington, D.C.

Zudika Siahaan, a Ph.D. student in Electrical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, expressed his hopes that under Prabowo’s leadership, Indonesians would achieve more notable global milestones, envisioning historic accomplishments like winning prestigious international awards.

“In the coming years, I hope Pak Prabowo will advance Indonesia’s educational foundations so we can see achievements like Double Prize Winners and even an Oscar Winner. Our national team competing in the World Cup and being more competitive internationally would truly showcase Indonesian talent and accomplishments to the world,” Zudika shared on Sunday evening, November 10, local time.

Another student, Fauzan Malufti, voiced his excitement at meeting Prabowo in the country where he is currently studying, expressing hope that this visit would strengthen Indonesia-U.S. relations.

“We’ve been learning so much here in the U.S., and it’s great to see Pak Prabowo. My hope is that his visit will enhance relations between Indonesia and America,” Fauzan said.

Desti, a representative of the Indonesian Women’s Association at the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C., echoed similar sentiments, expressing her desire for Prabowo’s visit to further strengthen the established cooperation between Indonesia and the United States.

“It’s been so lively here, and it’s wonderful to see so many Indonesian community members joining in to welcome him. I hope his visit goes smoothly and that the cooperation between Indonesia and America, which has already brought mutual benefits, continues to grow,” Desti said.

In honor of Prabowo’s arrival, Desti and her fellow association members wore traditional Indonesian kebaya dresses, a display they prepared specifically for the occasion.

“It’s part of our tradition in the Indonesian Women’s Association to wear kebaya when welcoming the President, as a way to represent Indonesia’s culture as we greet him,” she explained.

Prabowo landed at Andrews Air Force Base at 4:10 p.m. local time and reached his hotel in Washington, D.C., at around 5:30 p.m. (RR)