As shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted and global oil supply chains are in crisis, Indonesian President Prabowo has visited Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in the economic and energy sectors, but, contrary to outside expectations, no specific energy orders were announced.
On the 13th, Prabowo held a five-hour meeting with Putin. In the media-accessible segment, he told Putin that Indonesia believes Russia is "playing a very positive role" in the current climate of geopolitical uncertainty.
"We think it is very necessary to consult Russia on how to deal with the situation. If conditions allow, we should continue to strengthen cooperation, especially in the economic and energy sectors."
This is Prabowo's third visit to Russia since taking office in October 2024; the previous two were in June and December of last year. With global energy supplies extremely tight due to the US-Iran conflict and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Prabowo’s visit to Russia—the world’s third-largest oil producer—has been interpreted as an attempt to secure alternative oil supplies for Indonesia.
However, no orders were announced after the meeting.
In the talks, Putin affirmed the significance of Prabowo's visit and noted that bilateral trade grew by 12.5% last year. He said the two sides could fully align in energy, space, agriculture, industry, and pharmaceuticals in the future. Prabowo, for his part, stated that he would personally oversee the advancement of financial relations between the two countries to ensure that cooperation in certain areas can be accelerated.
After concluding his visit to Russia, Prabowo continued his journey on the 14th to Paris, where he will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron. In a statement, Indonesian Cabinet Secretary Tedy said the two sides will discuss strengthening strategic cooperation, and Indonesia will also take this opportunity to communicate its strategic views on global dynamics.