Indonesia Welcomes Bangladesh Foreign Minister’s Election as UNGA President

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia has welcomed the election of Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Minister Khalilur Rahman as President of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), viewing his appointment as important to ensuring that various UN agendas run smoothly over the next year.

Indonesia has a strong interest in the UNGA, one of the UN’s six principal organs with the broadest membership. Deputy II Spokesperson of the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Nabyl Mulachela, conveyed this in Jakarta on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

“For Indonesia, our involvement in the UNGA is very important because it is one of the UN’s six main organs with the broadest membership. The election of the Bangladesh Foreign Minister as UNGA President will oversee various mandates that must be carried out over the next year,” he said.

Nabyl added that Indonesia supports efforts to ensure that programs set for the coming year can be implemented, including through committees under the UNGA.

“Indonesia, as a UN member and a country with many interests, supports ensuring that all programs set for the next year can be implemented through the various committees under the UNGA,” he explained.

Regarding the possible attendance of Indonesia’s President at the UN General Assembly, Nabyl said the government is preparing several scenarios. He confirmed that substantive preparations are ongoing and being refined with relevant ministries.

“We are preparing various scenarios. In terms of substance, all preparations are continuing and are being further developed,” he said.

He added that Indonesia will announce its delegation size soon. Indonesia has also begun preparing several issues to be presented at the forum.

“First, we will look at the UNGA’s main theme. Besides that, we usually also review developments over the past year because the UNGA is an annual event,” he said.

Rahman was elected President of the 81st UN General Assembly after receiving 99 votes in a secret ballot, defeating Andreas Kakouris of Cyprus, who received 91 votes.

The Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Minister will serve a one‑year term beginning September 8, 2026. His leadership will also coincide with the selection process for a successor to UN Secretary‑General António Guterres, whose term ends on December 31, 2026. (Diffa Sephiawardhani)