Prabowo to Russia: Energy and Strategic Partnership
Although Iran has given a positive response to Indonesia allowing two Pertamina tankers to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz, President Prabowo Subianto has chosen to pursue more reliable new energy sources.
On Monday (13/4) in the early hours, Prabowo arrived in Moscow, Russia, accompanied by Foreign Minister Sugiono, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
The purpose of the visit is clear: to meet President Vladimir Putin to discuss the global geopolitical situation and national energy resilience.
This is not the first time Prabowo has visited Russia and met Putin. If counted since Prabowo was president-elect, the meeting with Putin in Moscow in July 2024 became the starting point of a series of consistent and strategically meaningful visits.
After that, Prabowo visited Russia twice as president—first to Saint Petersburg in June 2025, then to Moscow in December 2025.
This visit is the third in his capacity as head of state, making Moscow one of the capitals most frequently visited by Prabowo since taking office.
The visit also reflects Indonesia’s active diplomatic steps in building mutually beneficial partnerships with friendly countries.
The Indonesian government views Russia as an important partner in supporting global economic stability and growth.
Prabowo stated that the rapidly changing global geopolitical dynamics require input from various parties, including Russia, which he considers to play a positive role, and emphasised the importance of consultations to determine future steps while strengthening bilateral cooperation.
In the two previous visits, energy cooperation between the two countries was already a central issue. Indonesia and Russia at that time agreed to cooperate in the field of new and renewable energy, while also opening opportunities for the development of nuclear technology for mutually beneficial peaceful purposes.
Putin even openly stated his country’s readiness to become a partner for Indonesia in the development of civil nuclear energy.
That statement is not mere rhetoric, but a signal that Russia seriously views Indonesia as a long-term partner in the increasingly strategic energy sector.
Five-hour meeting