The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, has publicly praised Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for his leadership qualities and commitment to enhancing regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. During a joint press conference after a bilateral meeting at the Merdeka Palace, Albanese expressed his admiration for Prabowo’s vision in strengthening partnerships and addressing regional challenges. He emphasized Indonesia’s significant role in promoting peace, prosperity, and stability in the Indo-Pacific, highlighting its importance as Australia’s key partner in various fields including economics, politics, and security cooperation.
Albanese specifically commended Prabowo’s national development efforts, such as the Free Nutritious Meals Program for schoolchildren, as evidence of the government’s dedication to social welfare and human capital development. Drawing parallels between this initiative and the region’s growth potential through free trade and stability, Albanese praised Indonesia’s leadership under Prabowo.
This visit marked Albanese’s first international trip since his re-election as Prime Minister and highlighted the strong Australia-Indonesia relationship. In a light-hearted moment, Albanese playfully mentioned Prabowo’s love for horseback riding, showcasing a warm rapport between the two leaders. The visit reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to expanding their strategic partnership, particularly in areas such as education, defense, sustainable economy, agriculture, and fostering people-to-people connections.
