24-4-2024 (JAKARTA) Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan engaged in a diplomatic rendezvous with Indonesia’s incoming president Prabowo Subianto during his recent four-day sojourn in Jakarta.
Dr Balakrishnan paid a visit to Prabowo at Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence headquarters in central Jakarta, following his arrival in the city on April 23.
In a Facebook update on the same day, Dr Balakrishnan conveyed felicitations on behalf of President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean.
Prabowo, currently serving as Indonesia’s Defence Minister, clinched victory in the February 14 presidential election, securing over 58% of the total votes, as per official results unveiled in March.
Expressing admiration for Prabowo’s enduring camaraderie with Singapore, Dr Balakrishnan described the encounter as an honour, citing Prabowo’s unwavering dedication to Indonesia’s security and welfare.
“He is a patriot with an unwavering commitment to the security and well-being of Indonesian citizens,” Dr Balakrishnan remarked, underscoring Prabowo’s substantial contributions to fostering friendship and collaboration between the two nations over the years.
During their meeting, the leaders delved into the ramifications of global strategic concerns on Southeast Asia, reaffirming the robust bilateral ties between their countries.
In a statement released on April 23, Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence expressed Prabowo’s delight at witnessing the concerted efforts of both nations in fortifying defence cooperation, bolstering maritime security, and enhancing military prowess.
“In line with the close cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore, there is a lot of potential to increase collaboration in the defence sector, including the defence industry, military operations and training, and education,” the statement elaborated.
On the same day, Dr Balakrishnan also hosted a luncheon for Hashim Djojohadikusumo, chairman of the Arsari Group, and his daughter Sara Djojohadikusumo, who serves as vice-chairwoman of the Gerindra political party.
