Soemadi Brotodiningrat

Soemadi Brotodiningrat joined the Foreign Ministry in 1965, the year he completed international relations studies at Gadjah Mada University. He later earned a diploma in diplomacy in Paris. His career included Brussels and the United Nations mission in New York, followed by leadership of multilateral economic cooperation. He represented Indonesia at the UN organizations in Geneva in 1991–1995, became director general for foreign economic relations, and served as ambassador to Japan and Micronesia before taking the Washington post in 2002. ¹

In Washington, Soemadi drew on his experience in Japan to discuss the economic and security connections among Southeast Asia’s major partners. Addressing a USINDO forum, he supported stronger nuclear nonproliferation arrangements and regional cooperation but questioned whether the American backed Proliferation Security Initiative was consistent with existing international agreements. He also described Indonesia’s willingness to support negotiations over North Korea’s nuclear program. ²

The Indian Ocean tsunami brought a different task to the embassy. On 3 January 2005, Soemadi received President George W. Bush, Laura Bush, and former presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton as they signed its condolence book. The president used the visit to affirm American relief assistance and the former presidents’ leadership of a private fundraising effort. ³

After Washington, Soemadi joined DBS Indonesia in February 2006. He also led Indonesia’s delegation in negotiations for the economic partnership agreement with Japan; Japan recognized his contribution with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, in 2017. His later international work included service as Indonesia’s governor at the Asia-Europe Foundation from 2009 to 2025 and chair of its finance and audit committee from 2016 to 2025. ^{1, 4, 5}