Belarusian President Stays at State Palace During Indonesia Visit

There was something different about the state visit of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to Indonesia. President Lukashenko stayed overnight at the State Palace during his visit to Indonesia. This was confirmed by Foreign Minister Sugiono during a press briefing at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Thursday (2/7/2026). Sugiono said Lukashenko became the first president of a friendly nation to stay at the State Palace. “At the State Palace. The first president at the State Palace,” said Sugiono. Visiting heads of state or government from friendly nations usually stay at Wisma Negara. Some leaders of friendly nations also choose to stay at hotels. Before Lukashenko, the last head of government to stay at Wisma Negara was Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Wisma Negara is located within the Jakarta Presidential Palace complex. “The last one at Wisma Negara was the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen,” said Sugiono. Sugiono said there was no specific reason behind Lukashenko staying at the State Palace. According to him, it was a gesture of honour for the state guest, and Lukashenko was willing to stay at the Palace. “Yes, I think we are extending an honour because usually, during state visits, other presidents prefer to stay at hotels,” he said. “But this time he wished to stay at the Palace. Initially it was Wisma Negara, but the President assessed that the Palace was more representative,” Sugiono continued. President Prabowo is scheduled to receive President Lukashenko at Merdeka Palace this afternoon. President Lukashenko’s visit to Indonesia is a reciprocal visit following President Prabowo Subianto’s trip to Belarus on 15 July 2025. This visit is also Lukashenko’s second to Indonesia after 2013. Lukashenko arrived in Jakarta and was welcomed by Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin on Wednesday (1) July. Sjafrie personally greeted his arrival at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta. “I represented the President of the Republic of Indonesia in welcoming the arrival of the President of the Republic of Belarus, H.E. Alexander Lukashenko, at Base Ops Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 1 July 2026,” Sjafrie wrote in a statement on his Instagram account.