Will Prabowo’s Brics ambitions reshape Indonesia’s ties with Russia and China?

Though rooted in Indonesia’s long-standing “bebas dan aktif” (independent and active) foreign policy tradition, analysts say the West will be closely watching Prabowo’s dealings with Russia and China, in particular.

The Indonesian Navy has heralded the coming bilateral exercise with Russia, from Monday to Friday off Surabaya, as a “milestone”. Three Russian corvettes, a tanker, a helicopter and a tugboat will be deployed for the drills, Moscow’s envoy Sergey Tolchenov confirmed last week.

No rival power was being targeted by the drills, Tolchenov said last Monday, the aim is “just to increase the capabilities and potential of our two fleets”.