Jakarta - Football athlete Miliano Jonathans has officially become an Indonesian citizen (WNI) after taking the oath and pledge of allegiance as an Indonesian citizen on Wednesday (03/09/2025) at the Ministry of Law building.
"By taking the oath and pledge of allegiance today, Miliano Jonathans has formally become part of the Indonesian nation. This moment is not merely a change in citizenship status, but also reflects shared ideals and hopes in advancing Indonesia," said Minister of Law (Menkum), Supratman Andi Agtas, who presided over the ceremony.
The athlete born on April 5, 2004, will be a new weapon to complement the Indonesian national team in various international events. Supratman said that Miliano is expected to defend the Garuda squad in big matches and strengthen Indonesia's position on the global level.
"Naturalization is a crucial move as we look ahead to the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Asian Qualifiers Round 4 2025, and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027. Indonesia's vision to emerge as a football powerhouse in Asia, and even globally, is not beyond reach," said Supratman when leading the oath and pledge of allegiance to Miliano as an Indonesian citizen.
Supratman explained that Miliano’s naturalization was carried out in the national interest, in accordance with Article 20 of Law Number 12 of 2006 concerning Citizenship of the Republic of Indonesia. Through this mechanism, the Indonesian government ensures equal opportunities for athletes of Indonesian descent to contribute and bring pride to Indonesia on the global stage.
"One positive aspect of naturalization is that it opens pathway for players of Indonesian descent born abroad to represent for the Indonesian national team," he said.
"The naturalization of diaspora athletes is part of the government's commitment to providing equal rights, given the large number of athletes of Indonesian descent scattered across various countries," added Supratman.
In the long term, the Minister of Law continued, the naturalization process is believed to enhance the overall quality of Indonesian football players because naturalized athletes can pass on their experience, knowledge, and abilities to other players.
Miliano, 21, is a Dutch-Indonesian footballer with Indonesian lineage from his paternal grandmother. His father is Dennis Bernhard Jonathans, while his grandmother, Willem Maximilian Jonathans, was born in Depok, West Java. Currently, Miliano plays for FC Utrecht, a professional football club in the Netherlands.
For reference, on August 29, 2025, the Ministry of Law also administered the oath of Indonesian citizenship to four footballers of Indonesian descent. They are Mauro Nils Zijlstra, Pauline Jeanette van de Pol, Isabel Corian Kopp, and Isabelle Nottet.
