Aceh – Indonesia, President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto shifted Sugiono from his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs during a cabinet reshuffle held at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The position left by Sugiono has now been given to Arrmanatha Nasir, who previously served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs since October 21, 2024.
In his latest role, Sugiono was appointed as the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs (PMK), replacing Pratikno. The appointment was reaffirmed in Presidential Decree Number 104P of 2026 concerning the Dismissal and Appointment of Ministers and Deputy Ministers of the Red and White Cabinet for the Remaining Term of 2024–2029, enacted on September 30, 2026, and will uphold all laws and regulations strictly for the devotion to the nation and state,” as stated in the oath of office recited by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Sugiono alongside other ministers and deputy ministers, led by President Prabowo, as reported by Antara.
In addition to the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs, the President also inaugurated Suyudi Ario Seto as Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Kapolri), Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Bahlil Lahadalia, Chief of Presidential Staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman, Minister of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Nasir, Minister of Industry Sarmuji, Head of the National Agrarian Reform Agency Dedy Prasetyo, and Deputy Head of the North Coast Authority Agency Commissioner General of Police Fadhil Imran.
Also inaugurated were Deputy Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Dradjad Hari Wibowo, Deputy Minister of Finance Nurkolisoh Ibnu Aman, Deputy Minister of Finance Luky Afirman, and Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Irwan Meilano.
Sugiono previously represented Indonesia, standing in for President Prabowo, at the 81st General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, which took place from September 24-25, 2026. In his speech, Sugiono reiterated Indonesia’s stance to continuously support the Palestinian people until their country gains independence.
In his address, Sugiono highlighted the conditions in Gaza and the West Bank and their connection to the ability of the multilateral system to uphold the principles upon which it was founded.
“Palestine remains one of the clearest tests of these principles, as well as a test of our conscience,” Sugiono said, as reported by CNBC Indonesia.
Indonesia views that violations of international law in Gaza and the West Bank serve as a reminder to the world of the conditions prior to the establishment of modern international legal foundations.
“The clear violations of international law in Gaza and the West Bank remind us of the world before 1945, the world before the UN Charter, before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and before the 1949 Geneva Conventions,” he said.
In addition to delivering a firm stance regarding Gaza, Sugiono, leading the Indonesian delegation alongside 69 other countries, joined a walkout from the UN General Assembly hall when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was about to deliver his speech. The action was taken by 70 countries as a form of strong protest and rejection of Israel’s policies and aggression under Netanyahu’s leadership.
Gerindra Secretary General Born in Takengon
Citing the official website of the Gerindra Party, Sugiono was born in Takengon, Aceh, on February 11, 1979. Sugiono is one of Prabowo’s closest confidants.
He attended high school at SMA Taruna Nusantara. Afterward, Sugiono pursued his higher education in the United States and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Norwich University.
According to Wikipedia records, he then continued his education at the University of Konstanz, Germany, earning a master’s degree in business and management. Prior to entering politics, Sugiono had experience as an Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) soldier.
Sugiono served in the Indonesian Army from 2002 to 2004 with the rank of First Lieutenant, assigned to the Kopassus Infantry unit. After leaving military service, Sugiono became active in the Gerindra Party.
Sugiono was elected as a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) through the Gerindra Party in the 2019 General Election. He subsequently served on Commission I of the DPR RI, which oversees defense, foreign affairs, communications, and information.
His political career continued to advance until President Prabowo eventually appointed him as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The State Secretariat recorded Sugiono as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the initial lineup of the Red and White Cabinet announced by President Prabowo in October 2024.
During his tenure in that post, he served as one of the primary faces of Indonesian diplomacy under the Prabowo administration.***