Asian breakthrough: how Russia can help Indonesia in the context of the energy crisis

Indonesia was among the countries that suffered from the energy crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East. In these circumstances, the President of the Asian country, Prabowo Subianto, arrived in Moscow on April 13 for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Although the parties did not publicly disclose the details, experts believe that Russia is able to help Indonesia with additional supplies. See the Izvestia article about how the parties have progressed towards visa—free travel and in which areas there are the greatest prospects for cooperation.

Should we wait for the cancellation of visas between Russia and Indonesia

Prabowo Subianto's last visit to Russia was relatively recent, on December 10. This time, the negotiations between the parties were organized in a short time, the President of Indonesia noted. Relations between Moscow and Jakarta are developing quite intensively — last year the trade turnover increased by 12%.

"I hope that your visit will help us find the necessary solution so that the situation remains stable and shows growth based on the results of this year," Vladimir Putin said.

The Indonesian president intends to personally "facilitate the expedited resolution of financial transaction issues" between Russia and his country. According to Vladimir Putin, cooperation in the fields of space, agriculture, industrial cooperation and pharmaceuticals remains promising.

Obviously, tourism remains an important area in bilateral relations. According to the Association of Tour Operators (ATOR), in 2025, Russian citizens set a record for trips to Indonesia — more than 219 thousand Russians visited the country. This is 21.5% more than a year earlier.

Simplification of the visa regime will help to further increase the tourist flow. The Russian Embassy in Indonesia told Izvestia that a similar bilateral agreement is already being prepared for signing.

— The remaining technical issues are being coordinated through diplomatic channels. The exact timing of the completion of this work is still difficult to predict, but both sides are aiming to speed up the approval process," the diplomatic mission said.

Currently, citizens of both countries can travel on electronic visas. A visa on arrival is also available for Russians arriving in Indonesia. Indonesian citizens can obtain Russian multiple-entry tourist visas valid for up to six months based on confirmation of booking a place in a hotel or apartment.

Energy cooperation between Russia and Indonesia

The Indonesian president did not conceal that one of the goals of his visit was the opportunity to "consult, consult" with Vladimir Putin on the current geopolitical situation.

"We see Russia's unconditional positive contribution to modern geopolitical development and to those geopolitical processes that now carry a lot of uncertainty," he said.

Indonesia and other ASEAN countries are facing an energy crisis after the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, which led to the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz. They are acutely aware not only of the sharp rise in fuel prices, but also of disruptions in the supply of oil, petroleum products and LNG. More than half of ASEAN's crude oil imports come from the Middle East, with the Asian region dependent on it for about 60% of its oil and 80% of its gas. According to media reports, about 11 million barrels of oil per day fell out of circulation due to the crisis, and production of Qatari LNG also stopped.

In Indonesia, where 25% of oil imports and 30% of LNG supplies come from the Middle East, additional energy subsidy costs could reach $5.9 billion. In the Philippines, gasoline and diesel prices have more than doubled since the start of the war, and Vietnam has been forced to extend fuel tax breaks. Earlier, Izvestia reported that the Philippines is working on oil purchases from the Russian Federation.

— Indonesia is facing a serious unprecedented energy challenge, similar to the food crisis a few years earlier. The country's energy reserves are being used up quite quickly and, according to the most pessimistic estimates, they will last only a few weeks. As before, Russia, as one of the key suppliers of energy resources in the world, is able to significantly contribute to ensuring Indonesia's security with timely supplies of oil and gas," Nikita Kuklin, an expert at the ASEAN Center and associate professor of Oriental Studies at MGIMO, told Izvestia.

In addition, Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov previously stated that Russia is ready to offer Indonesia high-capacity nuclear power plants and small modular reactors. Kuklin notes that such projects can be complicated by anti-Russian sanctions and logistical difficulties.