ASIATODAY.ID, LONDON – President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, officially signed a new strategic partnership between Indonesia and the United Kingdom alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Lancaster House, London, on Tuesday, 20 January 2026.
This landmark agreement ushers in a new era of deeper and more inclusive bilateral relations, spanning the maritime, economic, energy, defense, education, and innovation sectors.
“We view the UK as an important partner with significant potential to contribute to our economy. They possess advanced technology, strong financial capabilities, and are keen to invest in Indonesia,” President Prabowo stated.
Key Pillars of the Indonesia-UK Strategic Partnership
The new Indonesia-UK strategic partnership focuses on four main pillars:
1. Strengthening Economic Growth – Through UK investment in maritime, manufacturing, and technology sectors, alongside the implementation of the Indonesia-United Kingdom Economic Growth Partnership (EGP), signed by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto on 19 January 2026.
2. Climate, Energy, and Environmental Cooperation – Supporting clean energy transition, environmental conservation, and sustainable development.
3 Enhanced Defense and Security – Strengthening the defense capabilities of both countries and regional security collaboration.
4. Human Capital and Societal Development – Promoting education, innovation, cultural exchange, and human resource capacity building between Indonesia and the UK.
Maritime: Strategic Focus for Fishermen’s Welfare and Protein Consumption
A central component of the Indonesia-UK partnership is the maritime sector. President Prabowo highlighted that the UK will support the construction of approximately 1,500 fishing vessels and the improvement of coastal villages to boost fishermen’s welfare and national protein consumption.
“This is highly strategic. Three-quarters of Indonesia is maritime, yet protein intake among our people remains low. This partnership will accelerate our maritime economic growth,” said President Prabowo.
PM Starmer emphasized that the maritime cooperation will also deliver significant benefits for the UK, including the creation of new jobs, noting that the agreement had been initially endorsed virtually at the G20 forum.
Education and Innovation: Strengthening People-to-People Ties
Beyond maritime, the strategic partnership also covers education and innovation. President Prabowo attended the King’s College Education Roundtable, discussing higher education cooperation and human capital development. This forum opens avenues for joint research, academic exchange, and technological innovation between Indonesia and the UK.
Business Forum: Driving Investment and Economic Growth
To foster tangible economic collaboration, President Prabowo also participated in the United Kingdom–Indonesia Business and Investment Forum, meeting leading business executives from both countries. The forum serves as a strategic dialogue platform between government and industry to expand trade, investment, and bilateral innovation.
From January to November 2025, Indonesia-UK trade reached USD 2.41 billion, with Indonesia posting a surplus of USD 459.5 million, highlighting the strong potential to deepen economic cooperation.
Strong Commitment from Both Countries
This strategic partnership is a follow-up to the Joint Statement on a New Strategic Partnership agreed in 2024, reinforcing the position of Indonesia and the UK as key partners in Asia and globally.
The agreement is founded on democratic values, mutual respect, and sovereignty, aiming for inclusive and sustainable growth. (AT Network)
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