Jakarta: Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto is set to travel to Russia on Sunday to engage in discussions with President Vladimir Putin regarding oil, as confirmed by Prabowo’s office.
The Indonesian presidency announced that Prabowo will depart on Sunday evening. Foreign Minister Sugiono indicated that oil, a vital resource for Indonesia, will be a key topic during the talks.
“He will meet with President Putin to discuss global geopolitics and the current energy situation as well,” Sugiono stated. He, like many Indonesians, is known by just one name.
Recently, Prabowo has traveled to South Korea and Japan and has defended these trips by emphasizing their importance for securing oil supplies. “Brothers and sisters, it’s to secure oil, I have to go everywhere,” he said in a cabinet meeting last week.
Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has been facing challenges due to rising global oil prices, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Though an oil producer, the nation still relies on imported oil, with heavy fuel subsidies in place.
To manage the situation, Prabowo’s government announced fuel rationing last month and implemented a policy for civil servants to work from home one day a week to conserve energy. The government has also pledged not to raise fuel prices in the near future.
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Additionally, Russia’s ambassador to Indonesia, Sergei Tolchenov, mentioned in March that Russia is willing to sell oil to Indonesia. “If Indonesia needs it, just let us know, and we will provide it,” he remarked, as both countries prepared for joint military exercises in Jakarta.
Last year, Indonesia joined the BRICS group, which includes Russia and China. Interestingly, Prabowo has also signed a trade agreement with former U.S. President Donald Trump and became part of his “Board of Peace.”
