Grace el Dora, Jakarta – Indonesia is seeking to deepen its strategic partnership with Russia by expanding cooperation in trade, investment and tourism, underscoring Jakarta's pragmatic foreign policy as it pursues stronger economic ties despite heightened geopolitical tensions.
Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said strengthening bilateral relations with Russia remains one of the government's priorities as the two countries mark 76 years of diplomatic relations.
"Strengthening bilateral cooperation is one of the government's priorities in expanding mutually beneficial strategic partnerships with countries around the world, including Russia, which has been one of Indonesia's strategic partners for 76 years," Airlangga said during Russia's National Day reception in Jakarta on Monday evening.
Airlangga said the two countries have built a comprehensive partnership spanning political dialogue, trade, investment, energy, defense, education, science and technology, and cultural exchanges, building on decades of diplomatic ties established during the post-independence era.
The growing relationship is reflected in economic figures. Bilateral trade reached $5 billion in 2025, according to the Indonesian government, highlighting Russia's importance as one of Indonesia's key trading partners outside its traditional markets.
Indonesia is also looking to capitalize on rising tourism flows from Russia. The number of Russian visitors has continued to increase, supported by the launch of direct flights between Moscow and Bali's Denpasar, improving connectivity between the two countries.
Airlangga said Indonesia and Russia are also working to strengthen institutional cooperation following a strategic government visit to Kazan in May, with both sides seeking greater engagement between government agencies and the private sector.
"Both countries believe that strong institutional cooperation, supported by active engagement between governments and businesses, will continue to serve as the foundation of Indonesia-Russia economic partnership," he said.
The reception, held to commemorate Russia's National Day, was attended by several senior Indonesian officials, including Culture Minister Fadli Zon, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, and Regional Representative Council Speaker Sultan B. Najamudin. Ambassadors from Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkiye were also present.
The government's push to expand relations with Moscow reflects Indonesia's long-standing "free and active" foreign policy, which seeks to maintain balanced relations with major powers while avoiding alignment with competing geopolitical blocs.
Although Western sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine have reshaped global trade patterns, Indonesia has maintained diplomatic and economic engagement with Moscow, arguing that cooperation serves its national interests.
For Jakarta, Russia remains an important supplier of energy, fertilizer, wheat and defense technology, while closer economic ties are expected to support Indonesia's growth agenda through expanded trade, investment and tourism.
The government's outreach also reinforces Indonesia's broader strategy of diversifying international partnerships and positioning itself as a neutral player capable of engaging with countries across geopolitical divides while prioritizing domestic economic development.