August 1, 2024
JAKARTA – The European tour of Defense Minister and president-elect Prabowo Subianto has gone into an encore with a previously unannounced visit to Russia to strengthen the defense and diplomatic relations between the two countries, a move widely considered a signal against Western-oriented leadership.
The visit, considered by the Defense Ministry an “important step” toward a stronger Jakarta-Moscow relationship, saw the first meeting between Prabowo and Russian President Vladimir Putin since Prabowo won the presidential election.
During his meeting with Putin on Wednesday morning, Prabowo said that he was eager to further the two countries’ bilateral relationship, adding that Russia has in the past “always helped” Indonesia during times of trouble, especially with early infrastructure development.
“We learn from our parents that we should never forget those who have helped us,” Prabowo told Putin. “I came here to emphasize that I would like to enhance this relationship when I officially take over [Indonesia’s] presidency.”
Meanwhile, Putin said that Moscow viewed Prabowo as a “friend”, highlighting the fact that Indonesia-Russia trade has only increased in recent years despite the COVID-19 pandemic and global sanctions against Russia.
Negotiations for a free trade area between the Eurasian Economic Union and Indonesia are almost finished, Putin announced, adding that Indonesia is a significant ally for his country.
“Indonesia, with a population of almost 300 million, is in Russia’s interest,” Putin said. “We will increase agricultural exports and implement our energy, transport and infrastructure projects in your country.”
Prabowo during his talk also requested that Indonesian military personnel be given access to study in Russia.
Before meeting Putin, Prabowo had a tȇte-á-tȇte with his counterpart Andrey Belusov, during which the two ministers discussed various issues regarding defense cooperation between Indonesia and Russia.
Since last week, Prabowo’s agenda has been packed with foreign visits to European countries. The tour started with France, where he was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, met with French businesspeople and watched the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
After France, Prabowo flew to Serbia, where he had a discussion with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. Prabowo then met Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara before flying to Moscow.
At all these visits, strengthening Indonesia’s defense, diplomatic and economic relationships was at the forefront of Prabowo’s message, as he awaits his inauguration as Indonesia’s next president in October.
Signals sent
Observers and analysts believe Prabowo’s European tour is a signal to the world that his incoming administration will not necessarily be Western-oriented, despite initial suggestions that his military background had brought him closer to the West.
Prabowo’s series of visits have been interpreted as a reassertion of Indonesia’s free and active foreign policy, considering that he visited a variety of European nations including France, a country fully upholding European Union ideals, Serbia, which is increasingly moving toward conservatism, and Turkey, which is at odds with the West and has aligned itself closer with China.
On Tuesday, the day Prabowo returned to Indonesia, Moscow announced the launching of the third stage of a tactical nuclear weapons drill. Putin ordered the exercise in early May in response to France flirting with the idea of sending troops to Ukraine.
“I could suggest that these trips are meant to send signals, particularly to the United States, of a possibility that his incoming administration will see a shift regarding Indonesia’s foreign policy, particularly its Western-oriented defense field,” said Dafri Agussalim, an international relations expert from Gadjah Mada University.
He said that Prabowo’s tour did not start in France; it started in China in April instead.
“He could be sending a signal that Indonesia is open to working with countries that are not necessarily the most powerful but are strategically important to current geopolitical issues.”
During his term as defense minister, Prabowo brought Jakarta closer to Paris, with a US$8 billion deal for 42 Rafale fighter jets and other weapons for Indonesia, which is looking to modernize its primary weapons systems.
The former Army general has also done defense diplomacy with other countries, including Germany and the US, fostering Jakarta’s security cooperation with the West.
Yet, Prabowo consistently underlines his priority as president to maintain good ties with every country and is adamant to ensure that Indonesia’s independent foreign policy be kept free of foreign interference.
After the official announcement of the presidential election results in late March, Prabowo piqued global interest by picking China and Japan as his first foreign destinations. The Asia tour also raised questions about whether the president-elect would soon pay a similar visit to the US.
Four months later, however, Prabowo’s team has yet to announce any impending Washington visit.
“It is very possible that this may be Prabowo’s strategy to tell specific powers that Indonesia has a lot of friends,” Dafri said, “not bound by one or two countries.”