Prabowo Makes First State Visits to Singapore, Russia

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto began his first state visit as president in Singapore, where he met President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, reaffirming strong bilateral ties and signing agreements on cross-border electricity trade, carbon capture, and sustainable industrial zones. Following this, Prabowo traveled to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin and participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, with discussions expected on security, trade, defense, and strategic cooperation. These visits underscore Indonesia's neutral and pragmatic foreign policy, seeking to deepen ties with major powers while maintaining independence in global conflicts. Indonesia has also recently joined the BRICS economic bloc and continues to strengthen military and economic collaboration with Russia despite Western sanctions. The diplomatic efforts highlight Indonesia's aspiration for a more prominent role on the global stage. Both visits emphasize Indonesia's commitment to multi-vector diplomacy and reinforce its growing international presence.