Jakarta. Russia is trying to get closer to Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, by establishing a dedicated cultural space at Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque.

The Istiqlal is Southeast Asia’s largest mosque.

Inside the mosque’s library lies a corner — known as the “Russian Space” — devoted to promoting the country’s culture, including books and matryoshka dolls. 

Photos of high-level interactions, including one of President Prabowo Subianto shaking hands with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, fill the space. The same goes for Indonesian founding father Sukarno’s visit to the Soviet Union in 1956. A large photo of then-Soviet Union Premier Nikita Kruschev hugging Soekarno stands out.

“Religion has become a key pillar in our strategic partnership, which our presidents announced in 2025,” Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov said at the corner’s ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday.

The Istiqlal has also become a place of soft power for major economies and their religious diplomacy.

The US chose the Istiqlal to have its first American Space located in a mosque.

China, too, has a similar corner where they have taught Indonesians Mandarin lessons.

Both countries have Muslim communities of their own, although they only make up a small share of their total population. 

Russia’s Muslim community holds at least 25 million people, reports show. Indonesia is home to roughly 242 million Muslims.

The Prabowo-led Indonesia has built closer bonds with Russia in recent years. Jakarta joined the Moscow-backed BRICS bloc, which brings together major emerging markets. US President Donald Trump has made no secret of his hostility towards the group, even warning tariff hikes if they were to create a rival currency to the American dollar.

The Prabowo administration also clinched a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which is bound to slash tariffs for its Russia-bound exports and vise versa.

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