Prabowo Subianto’s Active Diplomacy Receives High Appreciation from the Singapore Government
By Diandra Yuli Pasaribu )*
President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to Singapore marks a new chapter in bilateral relations between Indonesia and the neighboring country. In his first official visit as head of state, President Prabowo demonstrated an active, friendly, and symbolic diplomatic style. The Singaporean government also gave high appreciation for this approach, by welcoming Prabowo in a special way and immortalizing a historic moment in their diplomatic tradition.
Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam received President Prabowo at Parliament House. The warm welcome given was a strong signal of the personal closeness as well as diplomatic trust between the two leaders. Not only was he welcomed formally, Prabowo also received a special honor in the form of naming one of Singapore’s orchid varieties “Paraphalante Dora Sigar Soemitro”, which is the name of President Prabowo’s mother. In Singaporean tradition, giving a flower name to a state guest is a form of high respect and a symbol of deep friendship.
The naming of the orchid is not merely a ceremonial gesture. It is a strong representation of the growing and developing relationship between Indonesia and Singapore. The tradition of “flower diplomacy” underlines the importance of cultural elements and values of friendship in international diplomacy. On that occasion, the CEO of Singapore National Parks, Hwang Yu-ning, also explained the characteristics of the orchid directly to President Prabowo, and presented the book “Singapore’s Orchid Diplomacy” as a symbol of the legacy of long-rooted cooperation.
Demonstrating the spirit of reciprocity, President Prabowo also presented a white-blue urn and a golden yellow keris as souvenirs to President Tharman. The urn as a symbol of beauty and artistic value, and the keris as a symbol of strength and honor, reflect the noble values of Indonesian culture that are also brought into the framework of diplomacy.
Not only a symbolic gesture, President Prabowo’s visit to Singapore was also filled with a substantial agenda that resulted in various concrete achievements. In the 2025 Indonesia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat, the two countries agreed on 19 forms of strategic cross-sector cooperation. This reflects the seriousness of both countries in strengthening partnerships and expanding the scope of bilateral cooperation, including in the defense, green economy, and law enforcement sectors.
President Prabowo said that the meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was very productive and full of collaborative spirit. The retreat resulted in many breakthroughs that not only reflect solid bilateral relations but also provide a new foundation for joint development amidst the ever-evolving global dynamics.
One of the important agreements produced was the commitment to accelerate the implementation of the defense cooperation agreement and the technical completion of cross-country military training. This shows the readiness of both countries to strengthen regional security and increase interoperability in facing geopolitical challenges. No less important, the progress in the extradition agreement mechanism also confirms the shared intention to uphold the rule of law effectively and transnationally.
In terms of sustainable development, President Prabowo and PM Wong highlighted the urgency of collaboration in the green economy. Singapore and Indonesia agree that the issue of climate change is a major challenge, especially for archipelagic and small island countries in Southeast Asia. For this reason, concrete cooperation was built through the signing of three memorandums of understanding covering cross-border electricity trade, carbon capture and storage, and the development of sustainable industrial areas. These three sectors open up great opportunities for clean energy transformation and environmentally-based economic growth.
The closeness of the two leaders was also reflected in a private dinner hosted by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. In an informal but meaningful atmosphere, Prabowo and Wong had a dialogue at a round table with the Singapore night view as the backdrop. This moment illustrates a close personal relationship, which is an important foundation in diplomacy between countries.
The presence of President Prabowo who is enthusiastic, open, and brings Indonesian cultural identity to every state agenda, displays a new model of diplomacy that is inclusive, warm, but remains strategic. Not only does it strengthen political relations between countries, the active diplomacy shown also provides space for broader cross-sector collaboration, such as education, the environment, and technology.
The high appreciation from the Singaporean government for President Prabowo is not just an award for a state visit, but also a form of recognitionan to his leadership capacity in establishing constructive international relations. The diplomatic style demonstrated by President Prabowo during this visit seemed to send a message to the world that Indonesia under his leadership will be actively present on the global stage, bringing a message of peace, cooperation, and sustainable development.
By prioritizing cultural values, symbols of friendship, and strategic cooperation, President Prabowo not only strengthens Indonesia’s position in bilateral relations with Singapore, but also confirms diplomacy as an important tool in realizing regional prosperity and stability. Active diplomacy like this will be an important asset in facing global challenges while paving the way for Indonesia to become a respected and reckoned with regional power.
)* the author is an observer of foreign policy
