RI-Belarus roadmap: Indonesia's new direction in economic diplomacy

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Something felt different in Jakarta as Indonesia welcomed Aleksandr Lukashenko on Thursday (July 2). Unlike previous visits by foreign heads of state, the reception for the Belarusian president felt like far more than just a diplomatic ceremony.

Along Medan Merdeka Utara Road, hundreds of students waved the flags of both nations as Lukashenko’s motorcade made its way toward the Merdeka Palace, escorted by 17 outriders and an 80-member mounted escort from Indonesia’s Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres).

As the motorcade entered the palace complex, it was welcomed by the traditional Enggang dance from East Kalimantan.

Behind the grandeur of the reception lies a diplomatic process that began when Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met with Lukashenko at his private residence in Ozyorny, just outside Minsk, last July.

The reciprocal visit marks Lukashenko’s second visit to the country, following his first trip 13 years ago. This time, he was granted the rare honor of staying at the State Palace - a privilege that has not been extended to any other foreign head of state.

At the centerpiece of Lukashenko’s visit is the launch of the 2026–2030 Roadmap for Strengthening Indonesia-Belarus Cooperation, which spans modern agriculture, industry, trade, food security, science and technology, and human resource development.

The two nations also signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on cooperation in seven fields: industry, culture, health, financial services, science and technology, national accreditation, and the exchange of financial intelligence on money laundering and terrorism financing.

The broad scope of the cooperation marks the evolution of Indonesia-Belarus relations, moving beyond mere trade toward a more comprehensive strategic partnership.

Technology transfer

What sets this cooperation apart is its emphasis on technology transfer, moving past standard trade relations that are focused solely on transaction values.

Belarus has offered partnership in the automotive, heavy machinery, and agricultural mechanization sectors - fields deeply aligned with its Soviet-era heavy industry heritage, ranging from tractors to commercial vehicles.

The offer also includes training for thousands of Indonesian workers at Belarusian manufacturing facilities, the establishment of joint ventures, and plans for domestic industrial localization.

For Indonesia, this offer is relevant to its food security and self-sufficiency agenda under the Prabowo administration.

With its long experience as a hub for fertilizer and agricultural machinery production in the former Soviet Union, Belarus could serve as a partner that helps Indonesia strengthen its food production self-sufficiency, rather than merely acting as a commodity supplier.

Such an approach will also open doors for health sector development through medical personnel training as part of the MoU that both parties have signed.

This cooperation is also inseparable from Belarus' position in the Eurasian region. As a landlocked country at the heart of Eastern Europe, Belarus has built its economic strength on a foundation of heavy industry and its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), a trade bloc comprised of Russia and several other former Soviet states.

The Indonesia-EAEU free trade agreement, signed in December 2025, is heading toward ratification by both parties. Therefore, Lukashenko’s visit underscores Belarus’s position as Indonesia’s gateway into Eurasia, which has historically remained underutilized compared to Jakarta's major trading partners like the United States, China, and the European Union.

Diplomatic ties between Indonesia and Belarus date back to 1993, built upon the foundation of historical Soviet-Indonesian relations, including Soviet backing for Indonesia's anti-colonial cause at the UN. This legacy now serves as the cornerstone of a partnership that is shifting from purely political relations into a more concrete, technical partnership.

The combination of deep historical ties and a concrete cooperation agenda is relatively rare in Indonesia’s bilateral relations with countries outside its traditional partners.

Challenges in implementation

The expansive scope of this cooperation roadmap also means its implementation will be highly complex.

Indonesia's experience with various bilateral partnerships shows that a gap often emerges between the signing of MoUs and actual project realization. This is particularly true for technology transfer and industrial localization schemes, as they demand synchronized regulations, investment incentives, and the readiness of supporting infrastructure.

To this end, the success of the 2026–2030 Roadmap for Strengthening Indonesia-Belarus Cooperation will hinge heavily on the monitoring mechanism for implementation within the technical ministries of both nations, given the wide range of sectors involved simultaneously.

This fruitful state visit has highlighted the new direction of Indonesia's economic diplomacy under the leadership of President Prabowo, expanding the country's cooperative reach into regions that have historically remained on the periphery of its trade map.

For Belarus, Indonesia is a strategic partner to expand its economic reach into Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, for Indonesia, this partnership opens up opportunities for diversifying sources of industrial and agricultural technologies - which have traditionally relied on a handful of major trading partners - while simultaneously expanding its geo-economic foothold in Eurasia.

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Editor: Primayanti

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