The current global dramatic developments require a rethinking of the place and role of nation-states in a new world order. Its contours are just beginning to emerge, but it is clear that it will be multipolar. 

Humanity must not, and indeed cannot, repeat the mistake of creating or accepting the creation of a unipolar world. This attempt failed in a relatively short term by historical standards, and now we are dealing with the consequences. Building a bipolar world will also be rather difficult -- there are many countries and their associations that claim to be independent centers of power. Among them are Russia and Indonesia.

Our countries are pursuing similar foreign policies that are independent and active, aimed at strengthening strategic autonomy and ensuring a reliable security architecture in their regions and the world at large. In Russia's case, this is an initiative to create a Eurasian security architecture and, more broadly, a Greater Eurasian Partnership; for Indonesia, it is strengthening the existing system within ASEAN by maintaining its centrality as the core. 

In this regard, we believe that Indonesia could consider the Russian concept, especially given that the development and prosperity of the archipelago largely depend on stability on the Eurasian supercontinent. A Russia-Indonesia strategic partnership could strengthen Eurasia, preserving Indonesia’s role in fostering dialogue relations of Moscow with ASEAN, as well as the cross-relationship between ASEAN, Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SOC).

Moscow and Jakarta share close approaches to modernizing the UN system and, if this fails, on restoring international trust through the development of a new, fair multipolar architecture based on international law and fullest possible consideration of the interests and potential of all nations -- small or big.

Jakarta is aware of its tremendous economic potential, maritime power, and fascinating demography, no matter how the current complex historical situation unravels. Russia, which possesses, among other strategic advantages, impressive nuclear, energy, and water potential, will remain among the world's leading powers.

Russia considers Indonesia, with its economy and prestige increasing significantly, as one of the centers of power in the Asia-Pacific region, which has been driving the global economy for decades and is one of the most promising parts of the world. 

Meanwhile, Indonesia sees Russia not only through the lens of historical friendship but also as a strategic partner with significant potential for the future. This is why the leaders of Indonesia and Russia have met in person four times in less than 12 months. Under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto, this pragmatic partnership is being accelerated, balancing economic necessities against geopolitical risks. As one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement, Indonesia has been maintaining strategic autonomy by a hedging approach to active relations with global powers.

What are the prospects for Russian-Indonesian relations over the next decade?

Let's start with security and military-technical cooperation. Indonesia is actively modernizing its Armed Forces, cooperating with a dozen or more countries. At the same time, there remain niches for Russian sophisticated technologies, especially those that have proven themselves in real combat conditions in recent years.

Our countries share many global narratives, including the convergence of interests between the Global South and East states (hence Indonesia's accession to BRICS). Moscow and Jakarta disagree with the appropriation of global power and resources by individual states simply because they have pretended to dominate global affairs for the past four centuries. At this glance, Indonesia seeks to position itself as an emerging country in shaping a new global order, while Russia remains its existing power.

The Russian Federation and the Republic of Indonesia consider themself as states-civilization. For Russia, this status is defined in the Concept of the Foreign Policy approved by the President of the Russian Federation in 2023.

More than a thousand years of independent statehood, the cultural heritage of the preceding era, deep historical ties with the traditional European culture and other Eurasian cultures, and the ability to ensure harmonious coexistence of different peoples, ethnic, religious and linguistic groups on one common territory, which has been developed over many centuries, determine Russia's special position as a unique country-civilization and a vast Eurasian and Euro-Pacific power that brings together the Russian people and other peoples belonging to the cultural and civilizational community of the Russian world.

Russia is striving towards a system of international relations that would guarantee reliable security, preservation of its cultural and civilizational identity, and equal opportunities for the development of all states, regardless of their geographical location, size of territory, demographic, resource and military capacity, or political, economic, and social structure.

The states of friendly Islamic civilization, which have great prospects for establishing themselves as an independent centre of world development within a polycentric world, are increasingly in demand and more reliable partners of Russia in ensuring security and stability, as well as in solving economic problems at the global and regional levels. Russia seeks to strengthen the comprehensive mutually beneficial cooperation with the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, respecting their social and political systems and traditional spiritual and moral values.

At the same time, the concept of Indonesia as a Civilizational-State: an Epicentre of World Civilization was developed by Culture Minister Fadli Zon. According to the said concept, Austronesian civilization is not simply an import from the north, but rather the manifestation of a long-tropical maritime evolving civilizational matrix rooted in the Nusantara archipelago itself.

Economic ties are steadily developing and are about to get an extra boost after the ratification (it is already in the pipeline) and implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between the EAEU, its Member-States (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia), and Indonesia that was signed in December 2025. Diversification of trade and economic ties is one of the most important tools for implementing the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision. 

Currently, Russia is ready to supply Indonesia with strategically important goods, such as petroleum products and mineral fertilizers. In order to strengthen the partnership, Indonesia opens access to imported agricultural commodities, including palm oil and its derivatives, coffee, cocoa, fishery products, textiles, footwear, and furniture to Russia. 

As part of our countries' shared balanced and thoughtful approach to the energy transition, Russia, as a global leader in nuclear energy, is ready to build Indonesia's first nuclear power plant. Our countries are to start specific negotiations in this regard, thinking first about a small modular reactor. This will ensure Indonesia’s energy security, creating not simply a source of cheap, sustainable, and green electricity but a new industry and technological cluster viable for such non-energy solutions as radiation for medicine or agriculture.

Humanitarian ties. It's nice to see the growing demand in Indonesia to study in Russia. This year, the number of Russian state scholarships has already reached 300, with the possibility of several dozen additional quotas. Interest in Russian education, competencies, and culture is understandable. The Russian state-civilization possesses a unique historical experience, culture, and way of life, and is a significant part of global history. 

Russia has been immersed in most pivotal historical processes, often acting as their trigger and accelerator. The more Indonesian students gain Russian competencies and experience Russia from the inside, the more comprehensive a worldview Indonesian elites, including foreign policy makers, will have. Internships for Russian students at Indonesian universities are aimed at solving the same problem. Russians value Indonesia's centuries-old experience in building a harmonious space amidst its impressive diversity.

Indonesia aims to keep a traditional pragmatic partnership with Russia in any sectors (energy, agriculture, defense technologies, and education) and simultaneously protect indispensable security and economic partnerships with other partners around the world, from the West to the Middle East, from Latin America and Africa to the Pacific. This requires a tremendous display of diplomatic dexterity. 

In the individual leadership level, the administration of President Prabowo Subianto brings a distinct realist approach to this delicate equation. Prioritizing national sovereignty and military modernization, his “personal chemistry” with President Vladimir Putin of Russia facilitates high-level cooperation. However, the Indonesian diplomacy remains acutely cognizant of the necessity of maintaining robust ties with other parts of the world, ensuring that the partnership with Russia serves Indonesia's national interest without eroding its strategic autonomy.

The bilateral relationship between Russia and Indonesia in the multipolarity is portraying a remarkable modern pragmatism. It is not an ideological alliance, beyond a transactional partnership fueled by mutual necessity. Both countries showed a strong commitment to strengthening concrete and beneficial cooperation, meanwhile remains over past decades’ friendship trajectory. By emphasizing the framework of "Global South and East solidarity", Russia and Indonesia successfully navigate interests while upholding both foreign policy traditions to maintain global relations.

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Sergei Tolchenov is the Russian Ambassador to Indonesia. Sellita is a lecturer at Bakrie University's International Relations Department. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors. 

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