Russian President Vladimir Putin recently met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in St. Petersburg. This meeting aimed to strengthen ties between Russia and Indonesia as Moscow faces isolation from Western countries due to its actions in Ukraine.
The two leaders signed a declaration to establish a strategic partnership. Prabowo described the meeting as warm and productive, highlighting improvements in various areas such as economics, trade, and agriculture. He noted that the relationship between their countries is becoming stronger.
During their talks, Putin recognized Indonesia’s recent inclusion as a full member of the BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. He expressed optimism about the growing trade between the two nations and mentioned potential cooperation in agriculture, energy, and military technology.
In addition, Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund and the Russian Direct Investment Fund agreed to create a joint investment fund worth 2 billion euros, or about $2.29 billion. This move reflects Indonesia’s effort to diversify its economic partnerships beyond Western countries.
Prabowo’s decision to meet with Putin instead of attending the G7 summit in Canada has raised eyebrows among analysts. They see this as a potential shift towards closer ties with Russia, especially after the two countries conducted joint naval exercises last year.
As Indonesia aims to enhance its power generation while managing carbon emissions, it is exploring various energy sources, including nuclear power. The country is balancing its foreign relations, maintaining neutrality between major powers like China and the United States.
Both leaders are set to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, further emphasizing their commitment to enhancing cooperation.