Indonesia and Egypt Elevate Bilateral Ties to Strategic Partnership

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi have officially agreed to elevate bilateral relations between Indonesia and Egypt to the level of a strategic partnership. The decision was announced in a joint statement following a meeting between the two leaders at the Al Ittihadiya Presidential Palace in Cairo on Saturday.

According to a press release from the Indonesian Presidential Secretariat on Saturday (April 12), the newly established strategic partnership will serve as a framework for strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors, including politics, the economy, defense, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

“Recognizing the historical relationship that has united our nations for decades, the two leaders agreed to elevate their ties to a strategic partnership founded on the principles of justice, mutual respect, and mutual trust,” the joint statement read.

During the meeting, President Prabowo and President El Sisi also addressed pressing regional issues, notably the ongoing geopolitical tensions and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. President Prabowo reiterated Indonesia’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and expressed Indonesia’s readiness to contribute to humanitarian efforts in the region.

The joint statement described the dialogue between the two leaders as “productive,” emphasizing their shared commitment to deepening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

In a separate statement quoted by the Egyptian News Agency (MENA), Egyptian Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed El Shennawy noted that the leaders discussed initiatives to further strengthen bilateral relations, reviewed current regional developments, and considered steps to promote stability and peace in the Middle East.

President Prabowo was accompanied at the Al Ittihadiya Palace by Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

Egypt marks the third stop in President Prabowo’s diplomatic tour of five Middle Eastern countries that began on April 9. Prior to his visit to Cairo, he traveled to the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. He is scheduled to continue to Doha, Qatar, before concluding his tour in Amman, Jordan.