Jakarta – Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s Minister of Defense and President-elect for 2024-2029, warmly welcomed Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister (1997-2007) and Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute, to the Ministry of Defense in Jakarta on Friday, April 19.
Prabowo greeted Tony respectfully, expressing his pleasure at meeting him. During their meeting, Tony congratulated Prabowo on his recent victory in the 2024 presidential election, calling it fantastic.
The meeting served as an opportunity for Prabowo and Tony to engage in extensive discussions on defense and other global issues. Shuhaela Haqim, the Country Director for the Tony Blair Institute Indonesia, highlighted the importance of a national transformation strategy that focuses on security and stability to achieve prosperity in Indonesia.
Shuhaela also mentioned the necessity of strategic efforts such as eradicating extreme poverty, empowering local economies, digital transformation, and financial inclusion to pave the way for Indonesia to become a developed country.
As a token of appreciation, Tony presented Prabowo with a copy of his memoir, “A Journey,” detailing his political career. Prior to this meeting, Tony Blair had also met with President Jokowi at the Presidential Palace on Thursday, April 18 to discuss energy investments and digital transformation.