RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and Qatar strengthened their bilateral relations on Monday, June 15, 2026, with two major engagements in Jakarta: a meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi at Merdeka Palace, followed by the inaugural Qatar-Indonesia Political Consultation.

At the palace meeting, discussions focused on expanding investment cooperation and preparations for the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations later this year. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya noted that Minister Al-Muraikhi conveyed warm greetings from Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

“Emir Qatar also appreciates President Prabowo’s leadership and Indonesia’s economic progress, especially support for health, education, and nutrition programs,” Teddy said, as quoted by Antara.

The talks also addressed plans for Emir Sheikh Tamim’s official visit to Indonesia at the end of 2026, which is expected to serve as a symbolic highlight of the anniversary. “The visit will be an important momentum in commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Qatar,” Teddy added.

Qatar reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen investment in Indonesia, pledging USD 4 billion and signaling interest in expanding into other strategic sectors. This reflects Qatar’s confidence in Indonesia’s economic prospects and aligns with both nations’ efforts to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.

On the same day, Indonesia and Qatar held their first Political Consultation in Jakarta, led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Muhammad Anis Matta and Minister Al-Muraikhi.

The meeting established a structured framework for dialogue on bilateral, regional, and global issues, with an agreement to launch a Strategic Dialogue at the foreign minister level later this year.

According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both delegations agreed to accelerate pending memoranda of understanding in areas such as culture, higher education, science and technology, labor, and counterterrorism.

They also reaffirmed commitments to strengthen cooperation in regional and multilateral forums, including mutual support for candidacies in international organizations and coordination on global challenges such as climate change, food security, and energy transition within the Global South framework.

The two sides exchanged views on developments in ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), while also addressing Middle East tensions. “In response to recent escalation in the Middle East, both parties shared the view on the importance of de-escalation, respect for international law, state sovereignty, and resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy,” the Foreign Ministry stated.

On Palestine, Indonesia and Qatar reiterated their firm support for the Palestinian people, calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and unhindered humanitarian access. Both countries stressed the need to restart the peace process toward establishing a fully sovereign Palestinian state based on the Two-State Solution, in line with international law and UN resolutions.

Together, these meetings underscored the evolving partnership between Indonesia and Qatar--not only in diplomacy but also in investment, security, and global cooperation--setting the stage for deeper ties as the two nations approach their 50-year milestone. ***