Prabowo met Putin on energy

President Prabowo Subianto spent five hours with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 13, with Indonesia saying the talks produced long-term cooperation on oil, gas and energy security. (setkab.go.id) Indonesia’s Cabinet Secretariat said the meeting began with a two-hour bilateral session and continued with a three-hour one-on-one discussion at the Kremlin. The Indonesian side said both governments agreed on cooperation in energy and mineral resources, including “oil and gas, energy security and downstreaming.” (setkab.go.id) The Kremlin said the agenda covered the “current state and prospects” of the Russian-Indonesian strategic partnership, along with regional and international issues. Putin said economic ties were central to the relationship and described contacts with Jakarta as regular. (kremlin.ru) The energy push comes as Indonesia tries to reduce the risk of fuel shortages after disruptions to Middle East shipments. Arab News reported that Indonesia imports about 60 percent of its fuel needs, and about 20 percent of its imported oil and liquefied petroleum gas comes from the Middle East. (arabnews.com) Indonesia has been looking for alternative suppliers since the war involving Iran disrupted flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane that carries much of Asia’s oil and gas. Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the Moscow trip was part of Indonesia’s effort to keep domestic supplies stable. (arabnews.com) This was not a first contact. As president-elect and defense minister, Prabowo met Putin in Moscow on July 31, 2024, and an ISEAS analysis said that trip was meant to lay the groundwork for closer ties in food, health, energy and defense. (iseas.edu.sg) The same ISEAS analysis said Prabowo’s Russia outreach fit Indonesia’s long-standing “independent and active” foreign policy, which aims to keep relations balanced among major powers. That helps explain why Jakarta is expanding contacts with Moscow even as it keeps working with Washington and other partners. (iseas.edu.sg) That balancing act is now sharper because energy deals with Russia can collide with United States preferences. Nailul Huda of the Center of Economic and Law Studies in Jakarta told Arab News that Indonesia needs to keep communication with Russia open so fuel prices are not dictated by one supplier. (arabnews.com) For now, the clearest outcome is not a signed oil contract but a political signal: Jakarta wants Moscow in its energy mix. After a five-hour meeting, Indonesia is treating Russian supply as part of its hedge against a wider fuel shock. (setkab.go.id)