Press Statement (Doorstop) of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Following Overseas Working Visits to Countries in the Middle East, Latin America, and Europe at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta Special Region, Wednesday, July 16, 2025

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)

Thank you, everyone.

Alhamdulillah [praise be to God], I have now arrived home to Indonesia after being abroad for approximately 15 days. It was indeed a fairly long official visit. Alhamdulillah, the outcomes we achieved during this mission have been quite positive.

I attended the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Before that, I conducted a state visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where I met with several high-ranking officials, including His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister, and other key leaders. The meetings were highly constructive and produced positive outcomes. As you may have heard from their own official statement, not from ours, they also regarded the visit as very successful. We managed to achieve significant progress in various areas. They have increased Saudi investment in Indonesia.

Additionally, I put forward the proposal to establish Indonesia’s permanent Hajj village in Saudi Arabia. In principle, they welcomed the idea and did not express any objections. However, we need to follow it up with further preparations and technical planning. I have already received an initial briefing [on the proposed plan]. We hope everything can proceed smoothly.

In several sectors, we maintain strong and close cooperation with Saudi Arabia as well as with our fellow countries in the Middle East, namely Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan. Our partnerships with them are well-aligned.

During the recent BRICS Summit, Indonesia was officially accepted as a member of BRICS.

Following the summit, I paid an official visit to the Federative Republic of Brazil, where I was warmly welcomed by President Lula.

Indonesia and Brazil are both major countries with vast tropical rainforests, often referred to as the lungs of the Earth, and abundant natural resources. It is quite surprising, as President Lula and I discussed that our bilateral trade volume is still relatively small. Therefore, we agreed on economic cooperation for development.

While in the United Kingdom, I also held informal discussions with several officials. We exchanged views on global issues, including the situations in Gaza and Ukraine.

After that, I visited Brussels in the European Union. There, we achieved a significant breakthrough. After ten years of complex negotiations, Indonesia and the European Union have finally reached an agreement to establish a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which is essentially a free trade agreement. This means that Indonesian goods will be able to enter the EU market with zero percent tariffs, and the same applies to EU goods.

This partnership is mutually beneficial—a true symbiotic relationship. The European Union offers advanced technology, scientific innovation, and financial capital, while Indonesia provides mineral resources, various commodities, and a large, dynamic market.

I then continued my visit to France, where Indonesia was given the honor of leading the French National Day parade. This marked the first time in history that an Asian country has led the parade, a moment of great pride. It reflects how France views Indonesia as a highly respected partner.

I also held an in-depth discussion with President Macron, where we covered a wide range of issues. The dialogue was very productive.

Following that, I made a working visit to Minsk, Belarus. Belarus needs Indonesia’s key commodities. We also conveyed our needs, particularly in areas such as fertilizer, potassium, and other related materials.

After completing the visit, I returned directly to Indonesia.

Journalists

What about the tariffs?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)

Oh, well, I also had a conversation with President Donald Trump. Alhamdulillah, after a series of tough negotiations, we finally reached a mutual understanding. Both sides have agreed to respect and accommodate each other’s interests. As a result, we agreed—if I’m not mistaken—to reduce the tariff from 32 percent to 19 percent.

The negotiations are still ongoing, and I must say, President Trump is a very tough negotiator.

That concludes the updates.

Journalists

Sir, would you say that Indonesia is (inaudible) on a par? With major companies like Boeing?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)

Yes, it is true that we must continue to strengthen Garuda Indonesia. Garuda is our national pride, our national flag carrier. It was established during the time of our struggle for independence. So, it must continue to stand as a symbol of Indonesia.

We are fully committed, and I am personally committed to growing Garuda. To achieve this, we need new aircraft. I do not see this as a problem. We need the aircraft, and manufacturers want to supply them. Boeing produces excellent aircraft, and so does Airbus. In this regard, our interests align.

In addition, Indonesia still imports several essential commodities, such as fuel oil, gas, wheat, and soybeans. These are important for our domestic needs. So ultimately, we aim to build mutually beneficial cooperation.

Journalists

Will the agreement be subject to renegotiation, Sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)

Yes, of course. In trade relations, negotiations are a continuous process.

Journalists

Do you have any plans to visit the country, Sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)

Where to?

Journalists

Visit the United States and meet with President Trump?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)

He mentioned that the visit would likely take place around September or October.

Journalists

Will you be going there, Sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)

But honestly, I get a bit nervous when it comes to playing golf.

Journalists

Why is that, Sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)

My golf skills are quite poor. I think I’ll need to take private lessons. I used to play well, but unfortunately, I’ve lost my touch.

Journalists

Sir, regarding the outcomes of the meeting for Indonesia, will it remain beneficial for us in the long term, especially considering that we are granting the United States zero-percent tariff access?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)

We have thoroughly calculated and negotiated every aspect. We also have considered all factors. What matters most to me is the welfare of our people and the protection of our workers. We maintain a firm stance and this is the best offer we can make. My priority is ensuring the safety and security of our workforce.

I remain very optimistic because our economy is strong and in good condition. No matter what challenges come, we will remain resilient.

Journalists

Is the government satisfied with the 19 percent tariff rate, or will further negotiations take place?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)

Well, I think a zero-percent tariff is acceptable.

Journalists

Thank you, Sir.

(RIF/TM)