Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held a significant bilateral meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2025 Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea. This high-level engagement underscores the deepening strategic ties between the two nations.
The pivotal meeting took place on Saturday, November 1, at the Hwabaek International Convention Center, the designated venue for the APEC 2025 Summit. A primary focus of their discussions was the reinforcement of defense cooperation, specifically addressing the ongoing collaborative development of the advanced KF-21 Boramae fighter jet project.
President Prabowo conveyed a positive assessment of the joint fighter jet initiative, emphasizing that the collaborative project between Indonesia and South Korea is yielding beneficial outcomes for both countries. He highlighted the strategic importance of this endeavor in enhancing mutual defense capabilities and technological advancement.
“We will proceed with further discussions regarding the follow-up on the KF-21 project. I believe negotiators from both sides are continuously engaged in dialogue, and naturally, the outcome of any negotiation is always contingent upon economic considerations, pricing, and viable financing schemes,” President Prabowo Subianto stated in an official release on Saturday, November 1.
Building on this, President Prabowo further articulated that he has instructed relevant ministries to maintain close coordination in the collaborative development of the KF-21 fighter jet, including detailed deliberations on future financing mechanisms. This directive emphasizes a commitment to a transparent and sustainable partnership.
“I am confident that our ministers will continue their discussions with your team, as will the technical experts from both nations. Given the inherently sensitive nature of this defense cooperation, I believe it necessitates a more thorough and in-depth examination,” he added, stressing the meticulous approach required for such a critical alliance.
Indonesia: A Key Partner for South Korea
On his part, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung affirmed Indonesia’s crucial role as one of South Korea’s most important partners across a spectrum of sectors. These include robust economic relations, thriving trade, significant investment flows, and critical defense and security collaboration.
President Lee underscored the profound depth of cooperation between the two countries in defense and security, particularly highlighting their joint efforts in developing the state-of-the-art fighter jet. This partnership exemplifies a shared vision for regional stability and technological prowess.
“It is my sincere hope that this collaboration will lead to even greater achievements for both nations, thereby setting an excellent precedent for the forms our future partnerships can take,” President Lee Jae-myung concluded, envisioning a future of continued mutual success and exemplary international cooperation.
Summary
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung during the APEC 2025 Summit to discuss strengthening defense cooperation, with a primary focus on the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet project. President Prabowo conveyed a positive assessment of the joint initiative, emphasizing its beneficial outcomes and strategic importance for both nations. He also highlighted the necessity for continued discussions on economic considerations, pricing, and viable financing schemes for the project.
President Prabowo instructed relevant ministries to maintain close coordination on the KF-21’s development, including detailed deliberations on future financing mechanisms. President Lee Jae-myung affirmed Indonesia’s crucial role as a key partner in economic, trade, investment, and defense sectors. He underscored the profound depth of their defense and security cooperation, particularly in developing the fighter jet, and expressed hope for greater joint achievements.
