Sign of sovereignty Prabowo skips G 7 for Russia drawing scrutiny over Indonesia s neutrality

JAKARTA – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s decision to skip the recent Group of Seven (G-7) summit in favour of visiting Russia was not a blunt snub to the West, but a clear signal of his assertive and personalised approach to foreign policy, analysts said.

The move underlined Jakarta’s intent to chart a more independent course and elevate its diplomatic profile, the experts noted.

But they cautioned that leaning too visibly towards Moscow could cast doubt on Indonesia’s longstanding commitment to neutrality, especially amid deepening global divides.

“This is a signal of sovereignty – that Indonesia does not want to be tied to one power,” Dr Hendra Manurung, a lecturer in defence diplomacy at the Indonesia Defence University, told The Straits Times.

He said the Russia visit reflects Jakarta’s broader strategy of agile, multipolar diplomacy – maintaining relations with all major powers rather than aligning with one camp.

Dr Fitriani Bintang Timur, a defence analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said India offers a useful parallel.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in October 2024, but India remains part of the Quad – a grouping with the US, Japan and Australia – which has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“I think Modi-like engagement is something that Prabowo is striving for Indonesia to broaden the country’s partnership reach beyond the traditionally Western region,” she told ST.

Indonesia is not a member of the G-7 – comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the US – but had been invited as a guest. Russia, once part of the grouping, was expelled in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea.

“Mr Prabowo’s move to visit Russia instead of G-7 may certainly raise some eyebrows. Geopolitical signalling matters, particularly in this era of heightened competition between global powers.