Will Indonesia's Purchase of Russian Oil Be Safe from US Sanctions? Airlangga's Response

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto has spoken out regarding the purchase of crude oil from Russia. This is primarily in relation to disruptions or ongoing threats from the United States, which has negotiated with Indonesia on crude oil matters. “We will wait for further developments,” Airlangga said when met at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy office on Monday (13/4/2026). Meanwhile, President Prabowo Subianto, accompanied by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia, travelled to Russia in the early hours of Sunday (12/4/2026). President Prabowo met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday evening (13/4/2026). The working visit by the President, accompanied by the ESDM Minister, aligns with the President’s goal of securing domestic oil supplies, especially amid the global oil supply crisis due to turmoil in the Middle East. The main agenda of the meeting focuses on efforts to ensure the stability of national oil supplies amid changes in the global energy landscape that affect the balance of supply and demand. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya revealed that discussions on oil availability are a priority in this energy diplomacy to address global geopolitical dynamics. “Continuing cooperation with the Russian government and ensuring stable national energy supplies, including oil availability,” he said. As is known, the war between Iran and the United States as well as Israel is affecting the global energy situation. Iran’s boldness in blockading the Strait of Hormuz has raised global concerns about the availability of worldwide crude oil supplies. This is because 20% of the world’s oil tanker traffic passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Although not many Indonesian oil transport ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the uncertainty over when the war will end requires Indonesia to prepare for energy resilience, particularly for supplies of black gold.