Prabowo Expresses Appreciation For Russia's Support Regarding Indonesia's Membership In BRICS

President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto expressed his gratitude for Russia's support regarding Indonesia's full membership in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa).

Prabowo also highlighted the positive developments in the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Russia, which are becoming increasingly close, particularly in the economic sector, trade, and other strategic areas.

"I have been following the developments, and there has been significant progress in various fields. The economy is improving, and our economic relations are strong. Cooperation in many areas is also very good. Our agreements to participate in the Eurasian Free Trade are progressing very well. So, thank you, President Putin. There has been a lot of advancement in this relationship," Prabowo stated in his remarks in Jakarta on Sunday.

During the bilateral meeting at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg on Thursday (June 19), President Vladimir Putin emphasized that the relationship between Russia and Indonesia continues to develop consistently, with an increase in trade volume and vast potential for cooperation in agriculture, space exploration, energy, as well as military and technical collaboration.

"The relationship between Russia and Indonesia is developing consistently. Trade volume is rising. We have many prospects in various fields, including agriculture, space exploration, and energy. Cooperation in military and technical areas is also strong. We have numerous opportunities for collaboration, and there is still much potential and capacity for growth," Putin remarked.

This meeting between the two heads of state serves as a moment to strengthen concrete partnerships, particularly through the substantial completion of negotiations for the Indonesia–Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (I–EAEU FTA), which is targeted to be signed this year.

During this occasion, Indonesia and Russia also discussed cooperation in cross-border payment systems through the utilization of QRIS and transactions in local currencies (Local Currency Transaction/LCT), which are ready to be implemented directly without involving third parties such as the United Arab Emirates.

In the energy sector, Indonesia expressed interest in expanding collaboration, including the development of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology and the alignment of technical standards through a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA).

Collaboration is also directed towards the fields of pharmaceuticals and research.

Furthermore, Russia offered cooperation in the agricultural and food sectors, particularly in the provision of raw materials for fertilizers, agricultural seeds, and meat products.

In return, Indonesia encourages an increase in crude palm oil (CPO) exports to the Russian market.

In the tourism sector, Prabowo proposed increasing the frequency of direct flights from Moscow to Denpasar, which currently operates three times a week.

This increase is expected to strengthen connectivity and enhance the flow of Russian tourists to Indonesia.

Additionally, cooperation will also be expanded to the field of education, with Indonesia committing to send more students to universities in Russia.

The realm of sports, particularly badminton, along with the strengthening of inter-societal relations between the two nations (people-to-people contact), has also been a topic of discussion.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto believes that President Prabowo's presence at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2025 serves as evidence of Indonesia's commitment to enhancing global strategic partnerships and actively participating in the development of a more balanced and inclusive world economic architecture.

Accompanying President Prabowo at the meeting were several ministers from the Indonesia Maju Cabinet, including Minister Airlangga, Foreign Minister Sugiono, Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Minister of Education and Technology Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid, Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Investment and Downstreaming/Head of BKPM Rosan Roeslani, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

Tag: BRICS Prabowo Subianto Russia