Indonesian defence minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto (left) and Prime Minister Hun Manet shake hands during their September 6 meeting in Phnom Penh. STPM
Analysts believe that the recent visit of Indonesian Minister of Defense and President-elect Prabowo Subianto to Cambodia will yield positive results and expand diplomatic relations, and may also open up opportunities for deeper cooperation in various fields.
On September 6, Subianto met with Prime Minister Hun Manet, as well as Senate president and acting Head of State Hun Sen, in Phnom Penh.
“I am confident that Subianto’s visit to Cambodia will yield positive outcomes, continuing a diplomatic relationship that dates back to the 1950s.
“The deepening partnership between Cambodia and Indonesia, grounded in shared history and mutual interests, is likely to further enhance bilateral cooperation in the years to come,” said Ek Bunly, a researcher at the Cambodian Centre for Regional Studies (CCRS).
He told The Post that since his election victory, Subianto has been signalling his approach to Indonesia's foreign policy, which emphasises “increased engagement” with international leaders.
He noted that this includes recent interactions with officials from countries such as China, Japan, Malaysia, France, Serbia, Turkey and Russia, as well as his trip to Cambodia, which was not his first visit to the Kingdom.
Bunly explained that as both defence minister and president-elect, Prabowo's preference for direct diplomacy through in-person meetings rather than correspondence reflects his commitment to fostering bilateral relationships, saying this approach aligns well with Cambodia’s open stance toward nations that seek closer cooperation with the Kingdom.
According to a September 6 social media post from Manet, Subianto mentioned the “excellent” relations and cooperation between the two countries and expressed his commitment to further strengthening and expanding Indonesia-Cambodia relations to make them closer.
“The prime minister values the long-standing relations and excellent cooperation between Cambodia and Indonesia and emphasised that Subianto’s visit will further deepen them as the two countries celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties this year,” said the post.
Manet reaffirmed his commitment to working with Subianto to further strengthen and expand relations between the two countries.
The two leaders also discussed strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation in several key areas, including economics, trade, defence and security, agriculture and tourism, as well as considering the possibility of increasing direct flights between the two countries, according to the post.
Ro Vannak, co-founder of the Cambodian Institute for Democracy, told The Post that Subianto’s visit underscored a commitment to strengthening Cambodian-Indonesian relations and promoting closer ties between the two nations.
“It could also open up opportunities for deeper cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, defence, security, agriculture and tourism,” he said.
Bunly explained that Prabowo’s vision of being a “good neighbor,” which he promoted during his campaign, is now taking shape with this diplomatic outreach, noting that as Indonesia's defence chief, it is likely that he will focus on strengthening defence cooperation between Indonesia and Cambodia.
He said for instance, Indonesia's military aid of $500,000 to Cambodia in late August 2024 indicates a growing dual-headed collaboration encompassing both diplomacy and defence.
“However, some analysts have raised concerns about Prabowo's perceived lack of enthusiasm toward ASEAN. Given Indonesia's role as a de facto leader within the institution, this could pose challenges for ASEAN's cohesion.
“Cambodia, in this context, stands to benefit by emphasising the importance of ASEAN’s regional centrality and convening power, which have been vital in maintaining the bloc’s relevance over the years. Strengthening ASEAN’s role may also help mitigate any potential drift in Indonesia’s regional leadership,” Bunly added.
Subianto's visit came just over two weeks after Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi visited Phnom Penh in August, where she co-chaired the 5th meeting of the Cambodia-Indonesia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) with her Cambodian counterpart Sok Chenda Sophea.
In the first seven months of 2024, the trade volume between Cambodia and Indonesia exceeded $664 million, down 1 per cent. Of this, exports totalled more than$62 million, up 155 per cent, while imports from Indonesia exceeded $601 million, down 6.9 per cent from the same period in 2023, according to the report of the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE).
