Appreciation of President Prabowo’s Working Visit to Thailand Strengthens Diplomatic Relations
By: Naura Astika
The working visit of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, to the Kingdom of Thailand in mid-May 2025 became an important highlight in the dynamics of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Thailand. This visit was warmly welcomed by the Thai government and people, while also showing a new spirit in Indonesian diplomacy that is more active and oriented towards concrete results.
As fellow ASEAN member countries with a long history of cooperation, this visit is seen as a strategic step to strengthen partnerships, increase trust, and expand collaboration space amid increasingly complex global challenges.
President Prabowo arrived in Bangkok with a packed agenda. He was officially welcomed by the Prime Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, in a state ceremony that demonstrated the closeness of the two countries. In a warm bilateral meeting, the two heads of government discussed a number of strategic issues, ranging from economic cooperation, food security, strengthening the defense industry, to ASEAN’s role in responding to regional geopolitical developments.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said that solidarity between Southeast Asian countries is important in maintaining stability and encouraging regional development, one of which is the Indonesia-Thailand cooperation as an important pillar in facing global challenges.
This visit is considered by many as a continuation of Indonesia’s foreign policy vision that is not only rhetorical, but more oriented towards real results and cross-sector collaboration. In the context of bilateral relations, Indonesia and Thailand have a long and stable history.
The two countries have established diplomatic relations since 1950, and have collaborated in various fields such as trade, education, tourism, and defense. In the economic sector, for example, Thailand is Indonesia’s fifth largest trading partner in the Southeast Asian region, with bilateral trade value reaching more than 17 billion US dollars in 2024.
This was conveyed by the Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media of the Presidential Secretariat, Yusuf Permana, saying that in the context of the official visit of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Prabowo Subianto to Thailand, where he will carry out a series of important agendas in order to improve bilateral relations between Indonesia and Thailand. This meeting is a symbol of the close diplomatic relations between the two countries and the high respect of the Kingdom of Thailand to Indonesia.
One of the main focuses of this bilateral meeting is strengthening cooperation in the field of food security. President Prabowo and Prime Minister Srettha agreed to expand collaboration in agricultural technology, development of superior seeds, and sustainable food distribution systems. This is a strategic response to the threat of a global food crisis that continues to haunt developing countries due to the impact of climate change, geopolitical tensions, and uncertainty in the global supply chain.
Chairman of KADIN Indonesia, Anindya Bakrie said that his party also accompanied the bilateral economic forum in Bangkok. President Prabowo’s presence directly in strategic forums like this strengthens investor confidence, not only talking about politics, but also opening concrete paths for business cooperation.
In addition to economic issues, defense cooperation is also an important agenda. President Prabowo, who has a military background, views that strong military and defense cooperation between Indonesia and Thailand is very necessary, especially amidst increasing non-traditional security challenges such as cybercrime, cross-border smuggling, and regional terrorism.
In a meeting with senior Thai defense officials, the two countries agreed to expand joint training programs, officer exchanges, and the development of a high-tech national defense industry.
International relations observer from the University of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Retno Wardhani, emphasized that this step is a form of intelligent and adaptive defense diplomacy. This will strengthen trust and interoperability among fellow ASEAN countries in keeping the region peaceful and stable.
The Indonesia-Thailand economic forum held on the sidelines of the state visit also recorded a number of important agreements. Several memorandums of understanding were signed, including in the logistics sector, digital agriculture, and the development of an electric vehicle ecosystem. This forum also became a place to introduce investment opportunities in the Indonesian Capital City (IKN), which is said to be a new magnet for foreign investment in the Southeast Asian region.
Positive responses also came from diplomatic circles. Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand, Rachmat Budiman, said that this visit not only strengthens political relations between countries, but also strengthens relations between people.
Overall, President Prabowo’s working visit to Thailand not only brought diplomatic symbols, but also concrete results that strengthen Indonesia’s position as an active and trusted regional leader. With a shared commitment to strengthen strategic cooperation, Indonesia and Thailand have affirmed that a true partnership is built on mutual trust, mutual benefit, and a shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous future for the region.
Indonesia and Thailand have great potential to become the axis of strategic cooperation in Southeast Asia. With strong leadership and a shared vision, the two countries can support each other in facing global challenges and building a more peaceful, just and prosperous region.
)* Strategic Policy Observer
