Indonesia's Prabowo Meets Putin in Moscow, Seeking to Bolster Ties Despite Global Conflicts

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 31, 2024.

Indonesia's foreign policy is neutral, avoiding taking sides in the Ukraine conflict or the rivalry between Washington and Beijing. Despite this, Prabowo has expressed interest in strengthening ties with Moscow.

Prabowo is scheduled to visit Russia from June 18-20 for discussions with Putin and to participate in an economic forum in Saint Petersburg, where he will give a speech. Prior to this trip, he attended a leaders' retreat in Singapore, meeting with the country's prime minister and president.

Prabowo previously met with Putin in Moscow last year before his inauguration as president in October, referring to Russia as a "great friend."

The two countries conducted their first joint naval exercises on Java island in November. Prabowo also hosted top Russian security official Sergei Shoigu for talks in Jakarta.

Indonesia and Russia have significant trade relations. However, major arms imports have been delayed in recent years following Russia's actions in Crimea in 2014 and its full-scale military actions in Ukraine in 2022.

Since becoming defense minister in 2019, Prabowo has maintained a $1.1 billion deal for Russian fighter jets, agreed upon a year earlier, despite potential US sanctions.