Jordan's king and Indonesia's leader hold talks on economic ties and Gaza

Jordan's king and Indonesia's leader on Friday held talks as the two longtime friends agreed to strengthen military cooperation and economic ties between the two Muslim-majority nations.

King Abdullah II and President Prabowo Subianto share a long-standing personal relationship as alumni of the US Fort Benning military academy that dates to 1995, when both were still serving as military officers in their respective countries.

Three years later, Subianto sought self-exile in Jordan amid allegations of his involvement in the 1998 abductions of political activists during the dark days of Indonesia's military dictatorship.

Despite his stateless status at the time, he was welcomed by the then-monarch King Hussein, Abdullah's father. Subianto lived in Amman for several years before returning home in 2008.

Abdullah's state visit to Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country and Southeast Asia's largest economy, was the fourth stop on his tour of Asian nations, which also includes Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, and Pakistan.

Abdullah received a warm welcome in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, with his royal plane escorted by two fighter jets. He was welcomed on the tarmac by Subianto at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base. The king rode with Subianto in a motorcade to the Merdeka palace, where the two leaders held talks.

"I have an emotional bond with Jordan, His Royal, His Majesty and (then) His Majesty King Hussein, who kindly received me 27 years ago, that was how close we are," Subianto said before the meeting, "Please consider Indonesia your second home and Indonesia respects you highly."

"We want to work closely with you," he said.

In a rare gesture, Subianto invited Abdullah to dinner at his private residence in South Jakarta, rather than a formal state banquet at the presidential palace, as visiting heads of state are usually granted. It was a reflection of the personal connection between the two leaders.

"I am proud and honoured to be here, proud and honoured to call you my old friend," Abdullah said. "I know that in the discussions that we're having tonight and tomorrow, there are many new opportunities to strengthen the bond between Indonesia and Jordan."

When Subianto visited Jordan in April, months after his inauguration as Indonesian president, the king drove a vehicle with Subianto seated beside him in the front passenger seat and took him to his hotel.

During his two-day visit to Indonesia, Abdullah will also meet with representatives of the country's sovereign wealth fund, Danantara Indonesia, to discuss opportunities for long-term, sustainable investment that contribute to both Indonesia's economic development and global partnerships, thereby possibly expanding the fund's list of foreign partners.

Danantara Indonesia, established in 2021 to manage and invest the country's national assets, plays a crucial role in driving strategic investments across various sectors to support national development and economic growth.

Indonesian government data showed Jordanian investments in Indonesia remained modest at just $5.41 million in the first quarter this year, putting Jordan at 43rd place on the list of Indonesia's biggest foreign investors, while trade between the two countries weakened, falling to $559.7 million between January and September from $709.4 million in the same period the previous year.

Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told reporters after separate talks with Jordan's Armed Forces Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Pilot Yousef Ahmed Al-Hunaity, who Subianto and Abdullah also oversaw, signed several agreements, including one on intelligence sharing regarding Gaza.

Sjamsoeddin said that Jordan is significantly important in assisting with Indonesia's humanitarian operation for Gaza because Indonesia, which has long been a staunch supporter of Palestinians, doesn't have formal diplomatic relations with Israel.

Abdullah will travel to Pakistan on Saturday to meet with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.