Indonesia’s President, Prabowo Subianto, will attend India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday. This marks President Prabowo’s first visit to India as president after assuming office in October 2024.

The MEA confirmed, "Subianto will pay a state visit to India during 25-26 January 2025. President Prabowo will also be the chief guest for India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations."

A key partner in India’s Act East policy

Indonesia is an important partner for India, playing a big role in India’s Act East Policy and its goals for the Indo-Pacific region. Both countries work together to maintain safety and cooperation in key areas, especially in the Malacca Straits. This waterway is very important for trade and connects the Indian Ocean with other parts of the world.

Recently, India helped Indonesia by sending a large shipment of rice during a drought, showing their strong friendship. The two countries are also working to improve their military ties, especially between their navies, with plans to conduct joint patrols in the region to ensure security.

According to the MEA, "The forthcoming state visit of President Prabowo will provide an opportunity for the leaders to undertake a comprehensive review of bilateral ties as well as to discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest."

A tradition of inviting global leaders

India has a long tradition of inviting important world leaders as chief guests for its Republic Day celebrations. Last year, French President Emmanuel Macron was the guest. In 2023, it was Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and 2022, no foreign leaders were invited. Before that, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attended in 2020, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was the guest in 2019. In 2018, the leaders of all 10 ASEAN countries participated in the event.

Other notable guests in recent years include US President Barack Obama, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Nelson Mandela from South Africa.

This year, Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto will be the chief guest, and his visit is expected to strengthen the bond between India and Indonesia while boosting regional cooperation.

About Prabowo Subianto

Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo, born on 17 October 1951, is a politician, businessman, and former army general from Indonesia. In 2024, he became the eighth president of Indonesia. Before becoming president, he worked as the Minister of Defence for President Joko Widodo from 2019 to 2024.

Prabowo is only the third president of Indonesia to come from a military background, following Suharto and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He is known for his right-wing nationalist beliefs.