JAKARTA – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto left Jakarta on the evening of April 12 bound for Moscow, where he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin amid unrelenting conflicts in the Middle East that continue to roil global energy markets.
The bilateral talks aim to secure Russian energy products and raw materials vital for Indonesia’s fertiliser production, as the Southeast Asian nation ramps up efforts to bolster its energy resilience and agricultural supplies. “President Prabowo will discuss the global geopolitical situation with President Putin, particularly regarding the energy situation, such as fuel volatility amid conflicts in the Middle East. This is something very strategic for Indonesia,” Angga Raka Prabowo, head of the Government Communication Agency and Vice-Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, told reporters that night. He added that the visit could unlock broader cooperation opportunities.
Indonesia is also eyeing Russia’s vast potassium exports, a key fertiliser ingredient, to counter domestic shortages. The country faces surging fuel demand from the Hari Raya travel season, compounded by Middle East turmoil that has driven oil prices above US$100 per barrel. State oil firm Pertamina is maintaining reserves above the required 21-day minimum, with refineries in Balikpapan, Balongan, Cilacap, Dumai, and Plaju running at full throttle and depots at capacity. Since April 1, strict rationing has capped private motorists’ fuel purchases to conserve supplies.
With the Strait of Hormuz, handling 20 percent of global oil, blockaded amid the Iran war, Pertamina has shifted crude imports from the Middle East to Africa, the Americas, and other stable regions, CEO Simon Aloysius Mantiri said in March. To cut long-term fossil fuel dependence, Jakarta plans to boost the palm oil-diesel biofuel blend to 50 percent from 40 percent starting July 1.
This trip builds on Prabowo’s prior Moscow visit on December 10, 2025, where he and Putin advanced a strategic partnership focused on economic ties, including Russian investments in Indonesia’s offshore energy, hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, and shipbuilding. Rosneft recommitted to the delayed Tuban refinery in East Java, promising funds to speed up construction and enhance fuel security.
Earlier, at the June 2025 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Prabowo keynoteed on free market failures for the working class, prioritising food self-sufficiency, energy independence, education, and industrialization, goals now advanced through this energy push.
The engagements underscore Indonesia’s non-aligned foreign policy and Russia’s pivot to the Indo-Pacific, a region driving 60 percent of global GDP amid U.S.-China rivalry. Prabowo previously invited Putin to Indonesia in 2026 or 2027, an offer the Russian leader accepted, cementing diplomatic momentum.