Prabowo Appreciates Russia’s Support for Indonesia’s BRICS Membership
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: President Prabowo Subianto has expressed his appreciation for Russia’s support toward Indonesia’s aspiration for full membership in the BRICS group, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
In a statement released on Sunday, President Prabowo underlined the encouraging trajectory of Indonesia–Russia relations, particularly in the economic, trade, and strategic sectors. “I monitor developments, and I see a lot of progress in various fields such as in the economy. Our agreements to participate in the Eurasian Free Trade are also showing a positive trend,” he stated.
The remarks came following a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 19 at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg. President Putin, during the meeting, reaffirmed that ties between the two nations are steadily advancing, citing a notable increase in trade volume and growing potential for cooperation in agriculture, energy, space exploration, and military-technical fields.
The two leaders agreed to accelerate the finalization of the Indonesia–Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (I–EAEU FTA), with the negotiations expected to conclude this year. The meeting served as a significant step in cementing a practical and forward-looking partnership.
Cooperation on cross-border payment systems also emerged as a priority, with discussions focusing on the implementation of QRIS and Local Currency Transactions (LCT), allowing transactions to be conducted directly between the two countries without relying on intermediary currencies.
In the energy sector, Indonesia conveyed its interest in furthering collaboration, particularly in the development of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology. Both sides are also exploring the harmonization of technical standards through a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA).
Further cooperation is envisioned in pharmaceuticals and research, alongside Russia’s proposal to partner with Indonesia in agriculture and food security, including the supply of fertilizer raw materials, agricultural seeds, and meat products. Indonesia, in turn, is advocating for the expansion of its crude palm oil (CPO) exports to the Russian market.
In tourism, President Prabowo proposed the increase of direct flight frequency from Moscow to Denpasar, currently operating three times a week. He also emphasized strengthening educational exchange, with Indonesia committed to sending more students to Russian universities.
Discussions also touched upon enhancing cooperation in sports, notably badminton, and expanding people-to-people exchanges to foster closer ties between the citizens of both nations.
Commenting on Indonesia’s participation in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2025, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that President Prabowo’s presence signified Indonesia’s dedication to reinforcing global strategic partnerships and its active role in shaping a more balanced and inclusive international economic order.
