Indonesia's diplomatic ties with Russia appear unaffected by pressure from Western countries, according to statements made by the Russian Ambassador to Indonesia, Lyudmila Vorobieva, in a special interview with the Russian government media outlet TASS, released on Saturday (February 17).
"Pressure on Indonesia certainly comes from Western 'partners.' This was evident during Indonesia's leadership in the G20 and ASEAN," Vorobieva said.
Russia is a member of the G20. When Indonesia assumed the presidency of this forum in 2022, the government decided to invite Vladimir Putin.
Shortly after the news emerged, several Western countries threatened to boycott the forum.
However, Indonesia successfully hosted the G20 Summit in Bali. During the event, only three heads of state were absent: President Vladimir Putin, the President of Brazil, and the President of Mexico.
The Russian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
In the interview, Ambassador Vorobieva praised Indonesia for "not yielding" to Western pressure and successfully hosting the international forum.
Vorobieva then stated, "We must commend our ally, Indonesia, for not succumbing to this pressure."
She further emphasized that Russia and Indonesia maintain close communication and have seen positive progress in their cooperation.
Vorobieva also revealed that countries engaging with Russia face pressure, not just Indonesia. However, she did not provide further details.