Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia and Indonesia voiced their deep concern over the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip and called on the international community to take immediate practical steps to stop it.

In a joint statement issued at the end of the visit of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the two countries reiterated their commitment to continuing to provide urgent humanitarian and relief support and assistance to address the repercussions of the Israeli aggression in Gaza.

Saudi Arabia and Indonesia condemned the use of blockade and starvation by Israel as a weapon against civilians in the Gaza Strip. They expressed their complete rejection of the displacement of Palestinian citizens inside or outside their land, considering this as a blatant violation of international law. “The international community must play in pressuring the Israeli side to compel it to comply with international law and international legitimacy resolutions,” they said while urging the international community to hold Israel accountable for the crimes being perpetrated against the unarmed Palestinian civilians.

The statement highlighted the official talks between Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and President Subianto and their co-chairing of the first meeting of the Saudi-Indonesian Supreme Coordination Council. During the meeting, the Council's governance was approved, along with a number of recommendations aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

Addressing the council session, the Crown Prince and President Subianto emphasized the importance of continuing to support and develop the work of the council and its sub-committees, and the ongoing coordination between the two sides, which contributes to enhancing its effectiveness as an institutional tool that frames bilateral cooperation. It was decided to hold the second meeting of the council in Indonesia.

The two sides welcomed the signing of a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding between private sector firms in the two countries during Subianto’s visit. These deals amounted to approximately $27 billion in a number of fields, including clean energy, petrochemical industries, and aviation fuel services, embodying the two sides' aspirations for an advanced economic partnership.

In the economic, trade and investment fields, the two countries praised the strength of their economic ties and agreed on the importance of enhancing their cooperation, especially in joint priority sectors, supporting the building of partnerships between the private sectors of the two countries, and investing in the opportunities offered by Saudi Vision 2030 and Indonesia Golden Vision 2045 to enhance cooperation in various fields.

In the joint statement, the two countries praised the level of bilateral trade, which amounted to approximately $31.5 billion over the past five years, making the Kingdom the first trading partner of Indonesia in the region. They welcomed the positive results of the negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Indonesia, which were held between the two sides during September 2024 and February 2025, and expressed their aspiration to conclude the agreement in the near future.

The two sides emphasized the importance of enhancing investment cooperation and intensifying efforts to enable strategic partnerships in priority sectors, most notably energy, financial services, mining, manufacturing, logistics, tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, and green technologies, in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, Indonesia's Golden Vision 2045, and Indonesia's National Development Priorities.

The two countries commended the vital role played by joint investments in supporting economic integration and creating qualitative opportunities for the private sector in both countries. In this regard, the two sides expressed their aspiration to develop an investment-friendly environment and adopt effective mechanisms that enhance the alignment of development and investment policies and contribute to achieving development goals.

In the energy sector, the Indonesian side commended the Kingdom's pioneering role and efforts in enhancing the reliability and stability of global oil markets, and its positive role in balancing global energy markets. The Indonesian side emphasized the importance of ensuring the security of supplies for all energy sources in global markets.

In this regard, the two sides agreed on the importance of enhancing cooperation in the supply of crude oil and its derivatives, petrochemicals, and joint efforts to exploit investment opportunities in the refining and petrochemical sectors. They will also strengthen cooperation in developing and sustaining supply chains in the energy sectors, facilitating cooperation between companies to maximize the use of local resources in both countries, contributing to the flexibility and efficiency of energy supplies, enhancing local content, empowering local industries, and building more resilient and inclusive supply chains.

The two sides also agreed to cooperate in implementing electricity, renewable energy, and energy storage projects, as well as developing them, enhancing the participation of companies from both sides in their implementation, and encouraging technology transfer, capacity building, and collaborative research to support national energy transformations and renewable energy development goals.

Saudi Arabia and Indonesia emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation and partnership in the following areas: digital economy and innovation, judiciary and justice, labor and human resources, culture, tourism, sports and youth, education and scientific research, industry and mining, agriculture, fisheries, and food security and enhancing air connectivity between the two countries and providing the necessary facilities and exemptions for the two countries' carriers.

On the defense and security front, the two sides agreed on the importance of strengthening and developing defense cooperation between the two countries, in a way that serves common interests and contributes to achieving regional and global security and stability. They affirmed their commitment to enhancing their security cooperation and coordination on issues of common interest, including combating all forms of crime, combating terrorism and extremism and their financing, enhancing cooperation in the field of cybersecurity, and exchanging information, expertise, and training, thus contributing to achieving security and stability in the two countries.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived in Saudi Arabia in response to an invitation from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.