Indonesia and Germany Push for Deeper Economic Ties Amid Global Uncertainty

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier met in Jakarta to advance a stronger economic partnership, the Indonesian state agency Antara reported. Prabowo expressed appreciation for the visit and described closer ties as a response to global economic uncertainty.

In a related report, Antara said the two sides pressed for expanded investment, with Indonesia seeking German capital and technology and Germany seeking access to one of Southeast Asia's largest economies and its supply of critical minerals.

The meeting reflects how middle-sized and large emerging economies are diversifying their partnerships rather than aligning fully with any single bloc. For Indonesia, deeper engagement with Germany sits alongside its ties with China, the United States and its neighbors, part of a strategy of balancing among major powers.

For Germany, the outreach is part of an effort to secure supply chains and markets beyond China at a time when European firms are reassessing their reliance on a single dominant supplier. The economic logic for both sides is diversification in a period of trade fragmentation.