Prabowo Welcomes Thai PM Anutin at Merdeka Palace with Jaipong Dance

President Prabowo Subianto welcomed Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in a state ceremony at the Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta on Monday, 3 August 2026. The solemn and festive welcome marked Prime Minister Anutin’s first official visit to Indonesia since assuming office as head of the Thai government. The Thai premier arrived at the Presidential Palace complex at approximately 16:53 WIB, accompanied by a motorcade of 120 mounted troops and dozens of motorcycle outriders escorting the entourage to the Merdeka Palace. The welcoming atmosphere was further enlivened by the presence of hundreds of uniformed troops and participants dressed in traditional attire from various regions. Hundreds of students filling the palace grounds waved small Indonesian and Thai flags as a symbol of friendship between the two nations. Upon arriving at the palace courtyard, Prime Minister Anutin was treated to a performance of Tari Sekar Sahitya Ayu, a classical Jaipong dance from West Java, before being greeted directly by President Prabowo Subianto. President Prabowo appeared in a grey suit paired with a black peci cap, while Prime Minister Anutin wore a dark blue suit. The welcoming ceremony continued with the playing of the national anthems of Indonesia and Thailand by a state musical ensemble. As part of the honours for the visiting head of government, a 21-gun salute accompanied the ceremony. President Prabowo then invited Prime Minister Anutin to inspect the guard of honour. Following the troop inspection, President Prabowo introduced Prime Minister Anutin to the attending ministers and senior officials. Among the officials accompanying the President were Foreign Minister Sugiono, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi, Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti, Head of the State-Owned Enterprises Supervisory Board Dony Oskaria, Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. Prime Minister Anutin’s official visit to Indonesia is scheduled to take place from 3 to 4 August 2026.