Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir urged citizens across Europe to stay away from escalating protests and local politics, following violent demonstrations sparked by living costs and education grievances in countries including France and Belgium.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta issued a strict directive on Thursday, October 22, 2026, ordering Indonesian nationals residing in European nations to remain entirely neutral. Officials directed students and migrant workers to steer clear of demonstrations that have turned volatile, as diplomatic outposts across the continent sit on full alert to monitor the security situation.
Arrmanatha Nasir Issues Directives in Jakarta After Bilateral Talks
Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir—widely known as Tata—delivered the warning during a press engagement at the ministry headquarters in Jakarta. The announcement followed his bilateral meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, just days after the Indonesian foreign chief conferred with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace Complex regarding the unfolding unrest across the European continent.
For Indonesian citizens in Europe, we ask them to be careful, take care of themselves, and not get involved in the political developments taking place there.
Arrmanatha Nasir, Indonesian Foreign Minister
Beyond staying clear of political turmoil, diplomatic leadership instructed the diaspora to prioritize their core objectives abroad. Citizens were advised to focus strictly on their professional duties and academic pursuits while keeping in close contact with local Indonesian embassies, known as KBRI, and adhering strictly to instructions from municipal law enforcement.
Escalating Unrest Across France and Neighboring Belgium
The public anger originated in France, driven by student frustration over declining educational standards and soaring living expenses. What began as demonstrations over public services and school conditions quickly transformed into riots marked by arson, the ransacking of luxury stores, and attacks on government facilities.
By the weekend, protests had damaged historic city landmarks including the Limoges city hall and municipal government centers in Marseille. Laurent Nunez confirmed that police detained more than 2,500 individuals as roughly 550,000 demonstrators flooded streets nationwide, with 110,000 concentrated in Paris alone.
The unrest soon spilled across borders into the French-speaking regions of southern Belgium. Protesters reacting to budget cuts and education reforms clashed with authorities in Brussels and Liege, leading local police forces to arrest 195 individuals for physical resistance, arson, and assaults on officers.
