Europe
President Prabowo Subianto (right) greets German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on June 15, 2026. (Reuters/Willy Kurniawan )
President Prabowo Subianto on Monday received his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Presidential Palace complex to discuss strengthening Jakarta-Berlin relations amid a volatile geopolitical landscape, with talks centering on business and energy cooperation, as both nations seek to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.Arriving at the palace at around 11:30 a.m. with a delegation of German business figures, Steinmeier was accorded a ceremonial welcome featuring a motorcade escort, honor guard, rows of elementary schoolchildren and a traditional dance performance, before holding closed-door discussions with Prabowo that lasted about an hour.
In a joint statement after their meeting, Steinmeier stressed the importance of close ties between the two countries as steadfast supporters of international law under the United Nations Charter, describing Indonesia as a key partner as one of Southeast Asia’s most important “stabilizing forces”.
Noting the recent signing of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA), Steinmeier said both countries were now looking to develop an improved “trade framework” to facilitate bilateral economic ties. He added that Berlin’s interest in expanding business cooperation with Jakarta remained high.
