Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta.  Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono assured lawmakers that Indonesia’s diplomatic missions remain fully operational despite several ambassadorial posts remaining vacant. 

“We’re able to carry out all functions at our embassies quite smoothly, even where ambassador positions are currently unfilled,” he told Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday (30/6/2025), as quoted by antaranews.com.

The minister acknowledged the challenge in finding qualified ambassadors, saying that the ministry expects to submit the list of ambassadorial candidates to DPR within days. 

Some appointed ambassadors, he added, were present at the meeting but have yet to depart for duty,  pending accreditation processes with host countries.

The Indonesian ambassador in Washington D.C has been vacant since July 2023—amid sweeping new policies by U.S. President Donald Trump. 

Separately, former president Jusuf Kalla noted that during his administration, ambassador posts were not allowed to remain vacant for more than three months. He added that ambassadors were not permitted to return home unless their replacement had already been appointed.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)