Prabowo Welcomes Australian PM Anthony Albanese at Merdeka Palace

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto received Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta today, Thursday, May 15, 2025. Albanese's visit marks his first official visit abroad after winning the general election.

Albanese's convoy arrived at the Merdeka Palace around 10:02 AM local time. Before reaching the palace gate, the convoy passed by the National Monument, accompanied by cavalry. Meanwhile, elementary and middle school students waved Indonesian and Australian flags along the roadside as the convoy entered the palace's front yard.

Prabowo personally greeted Albanese at the palace's front yard. A 21-gun salute was fired as the national anthems of both countries were played. Prabowo then escorted Albanese to inspect the soldiers on the blue sky carpet. Subsequently, Prabowo introduced Albanese to the Red and White Cabinet.

Members of the Red and White Cabinet in attendance included Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid, Foreign Minister Sugiono, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

Previously, Albanese arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 6:30 PM local time. His arrival in Indonesia marked the start of his three-day official visit, scheduled from May 14 to 16, 2025.

At Halim Perdanakusuma, Albanese was welcomed by an honor guard lined up under the aircraft stairs to give an official salute. Albanese's arrival was also welcomed by Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, Foreign Minister Sugiono, the Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Siswo Pramono, and the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Roderick Bruce Brazier.

After the welcome ceremony, PM Albanese and his delegation continued their journey to the hotel where they would stay.

"Following the welcoming ceremony, President Prabowo and PM Albanese will have a  _tête-à-tête_  meeting and a bilateral meeting with their respective delegations," said Deputy of Protocol, Press, and Media at the Presidential Secretariat, Yusuf Permana, in a written statement on May 14, 2025.

Following the meetings, the two heads of state are scheduled to hold a joint press conference to discuss several topics covered during their meetings..

Earlier, President Prabowo congratulated Anthony Albanese on his reelection as Prime Minister of Australia. Prabowo conveyed his congratulations directly over a phone call on Sunday afternoon, May 4, 2025.

"In a phone call this Sunday afternoon, President Prabowo Subianto directly extended his congratulations to the Honorable Anthony Albanese on his success and re-election as the Prime Minister of Australia," as stated in an official announcement on the Cabinet Secretariat's social media account, quoted from Tempo, Monday, May 5, 2025.

At that time, Albanese shared with Prabowo that Indonesia would be his first visit after winning the Australian general election.

"I want to congratulate you on your great victory. I am also very happy. I am very happy," said Prabowo, as quoted from a video conversation released by the Presidential Palace on May 5, 2025.

Albanese responded with a thank you and then conveyed to Prabowo that he had a personal request.

"My friend, I have a request for you," said Albanese.

"Please, go ahead," replied Prabowo.

"And I want you to say 'yes,'" Albanese continued.

"Please, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead," Prabowo responded.

"I want Indonesia to be my first visit," said Albanese.

Prabowo immediately welcomed the request with great enthusiasm.

"Extraordinary, a great honor. A great honor. A great honor," he said.

Anthony Albanese made history by extending his term of office after achieving a resounding victory in the election on Saturday, May 3, 2025. This victory makes him the first Prime Minister from the Labor Party to serve two consecutive terms in the last two decades.

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