Mitchell Lee Baker Officially Becomes an Indonesian Citizen

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Football athlete, Mitchell Lee Baker, officially becomes an Indonesian citizen (WNI) after taking the oath and pledge of allegiance to citizenship in Jakarta, Monday, July 13, 2026. The ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Erick Thohir.

Thru the oath-taking, Mitchell officially renounced his Australian citizenship and becomes an Indonesian citizen. The 19-year-old forward, who plays for the Georgetown University soccer team, obtained Indonesian citizenship thru his lineage from his grandfather, Han Koen Lie, who was born in Yogyakarta, and his grandmother, Li Nio The Lie, who was born in Semarang.

In the oath-taking ceremony, Mitchell declared his loyalty to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), Pancasila, and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.

"I pledge to renounce all my loyalty to foreign powers, to acknowledge, obey, and be loyal to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, Pancasila, and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, and to fulfilll my duties as an Indonesian citizen sincerely and wholeheartedly," Mitchell said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Erick Thohir, congratulated Mitchell on the completion of the naturalization process. He affirmed that the naturalization policy is part of the government's strategy to improve national sports achievements in line with the sports development targets set by the government.

"We continue to encourage the improvement of Indonesia's sports achievements and embrace all parties who can raise the Red and White flag on the world stage," the Minister said.

He also explained that this naturalization refers to the strategic steps taken by other countries to advance sports. In this case, the Ministry of Youth and Sports is open to proposals for the naturalization of athletes from various sports, not just football.