Director General of Foreign Affairs: South Korea is a Long-term Strategic Partner for Indonesia

The Indonesian government has emphasised that South Korea remains one of Indonesia’s primary strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific region. The Director General for Asia Pacific and Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Santo Darmosumarto, stated that the relationship between the two nations possesses an increasingly broad strategic dimension, ranging from economics and the defence industry to the strengthening of regional stability.

According to Santo, South Korea is more than just an economic partner; it has evolved into a special strategic partner for Indonesia, underpinned by strong historical ties. “South Korea has always been a strategic country for Indonesia,” he said in Jakarta on Monday (18/5/2026).

“This is not only due to investment and trade, but also historical cooperation, including shared experiences in democratisation, governance, and lessons regarding the development of the new capital city,” Santo added.

In the increasingly competitive geopolitical architecture of the Indo-Pacific, he noted that Indonesia and South Korea are viewed as having similar positions as middle powers playing a role in maintaining regional balance. Santo explained that both countries, alongside Australia, have been recognised under the “KIA” (Korea, Indonesia, Australia) cooperation concept—a group of nations with aligned perspectives on maintaining regional stability.

“Middle powers can serve as engines for regional cooperation and as a counterbalance amidst the dynamics of major powers such as the United States, China, and Japan,” explained the former Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia (2023-2026).

Following President Prabowo Subianto’s recent visit to Seoul, the government confirmed there has been no change in how Indonesia perceives South Korea. The visit was part of Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to ensure the ‘Land of the Morning Calm’ remains at the forefront of Indonesia’s economic and strategic diplomacy.

“The President’s visit sends a very clear signal that South Korea remains an important destination for Indonesia, whether in investment, trade, industrialisation, or defence cooperation,” said Santo during a socialisation event for a writing competition organised by the Indonesia Strategic and Defence Studies (ISDS) themed “RI-South Korea Strategic Partnership 2026: Defence, AI, and Human Resource Development”.