Thu Jun 19 18:02:29 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to strengthen ties, signing a strategic partnership declaration. Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund and the Russian Direct Investment Fund agreed to create a €2 billion investment fund. Prabowo expressed satisfaction with improvements in economic, technical, trade, investment, and agricultural cooperation. Putin acknowledged Indonesia’s future membership in BRICS and highlighted prospects for collaboration in agriculture, space, energy, and military-technical areas. Indonesia, seeking to balance energy needs with carbon emission goals, is considering nuclear power. Prabowo’s focus on diversifying alliances, demonstrated by his trip to Russia instead of attending the G7 summit, signals a potential shift away from relying solely on Western partners.
**News Article:**
**Indonesia and Russia Forge Closer Ties with Strategic Partnership and Major Investment Deal**
**St. Petersburg, Russia** – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Russian President Vladimir Putin solidified their countries’ relationship this week, signing a declaration of strategic partnership during a meeting in St. Petersburg. The move underscores Russia’s efforts to strengthen ties with nations in the Global South amidst Western sanctions related to the conflict in Ukraine.
“Our relations with Indonesia are developing steadily,” Putin stated, highlighting growing trade and promising prospects for cooperation in agriculture, space, energy, and military technology.
Prabowo echoed this sentiment, saying the relationship between the two countries was “getting stronger again.” He described the meeting as “intense, warm and productive,” citing significant improvements in economic, technical, trade, investment, and agricultural cooperation.
A significant development arising from the meeting was the agreement between Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danatara, and the Russian Direct Investment Fund to establish a €2 billion ($2.29 billion) investment fund.
Putin also acknowledged Indonesia’s anticipated entry as a full member into the BRICS economic bloc, further cementing the growing alliance.
The strengthening of ties comes as Indonesia seeks to balance its energy needs with its carbon emission reduction goals. As the Southeast Asian nation, reliant on coal, eyes nuclear power as a potential solution.
Prabowo’s decision to prioritize the meeting with Putin over attending the G7 summit in Canada has raised eyebrows and prompted concerns about a potential shift in Indonesia’s foreign policy. Analysts suggest that Prabowo is diversifying the country’s alliances, potentially moving away from a heavy reliance on Western partners. This follows the first-ever joint naval drills between Indonesia and Russia held last year.
Both leaders are scheduled to participate in the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
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