Concluding a two-day visit to neighboring Singapore, Prabowo flew off from the Paya Lebar Air Base on Monday evening to begin his journey halfway across the world to meet with his Russian counterpart and attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which is expected to draw thousands of international delegates.

“This state visit will be an incredibly strategic one in strengthening Indonesia’s comprehensive partnership with Russia,” said Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya on Monday, who is among Prabowo’s entourage for the trip to Russia.

“Of course, it also signals Indonesia’s status as a big country increasingly esteemed by the world, especially amid ever-developing and escalating global challenges”.

Previously, the Foreign Ministry in Jakarta said the visit came following Putin’s invitation to a bilateral engagement slated for Thursday, during which the two leaders are expected to discuss the latest global developments and “issues of common concern”. The meeting will also produce several agreements, including on cooperation in transportation, higher education and the creative economy.

On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hosted Indonesian counterpart Sugiono in a meeting in Moscow, during which they prepared for the coming bilateral talks between Putin and Prabowo.

In a joint statement after the meeting, Lavrov said Russia and Indonesia should seek to deepen their defense, security, naval and trade links. He said he was “pleased” with the two countries’ “close coordination in the international arena, which is gaining momentum”, citing Indonesia joining BRICS earlier this year.

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