Indonesia’s Prabowo Calls for Closer Ties With China While Signaling Drift From the United States

Indonesian President Subianto Prabowo delivered the keynote address at the Indonesia-China Business Reception on May 24, 2025 in Jakarta. Image via the Indonesian Presidency.

At a moment when many middle-power states are intentionally avoiding rhetoric that could draw their countries into the rivalry between the United States and China, Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto went the other way this weekend with a full-throated embrace of Beijing that also appeared intended to send a powerful signal to Washington.

In a keynote address at the Indonesia-China Business Reception on Saturday that was also attended by visiting Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Prabowo praised China’s longstanding support of anti-colonial causes that he said are still relevant today, particularly in the Palestinian territories:

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by Eric Olander

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