Indonesia and Singapore Sign 26 Pacts at Leaders' Retreat

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong met in Jakarta on July 6, 2026, for their annual Leaders' Retreat. The two leaders oversaw the signing of 26 bilateral agreements focused on environmental cooperation, carbon trading, and defense. A central component of the summit was a memorandum of understanding on carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, designed to channel climate finance into forest protection and clean technology.

Economic cooperation centered on energy security and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Indonesia's sovereign investment fund, Danantara, signed deals with Singaporean firms Keppel Electric, Sembcorp Industries, and Singapore Energy Interconnections to develop at least 3.4 gigawatts of cross-border electricity projects by 2035. The leaders also announced a joint solar power project in Sulawesi to leverage Indonesia's renewable energy potential.

On security, the leaders pledged to keep the Strait of Malacca open, safe, and accessible, coordinating with Malaysia and Thailand to prevent piracy and pollution. They specifically cited disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and Middle East conflicts as warnings for maintaining secure trade routes. This commitment followed earlier suggestions by Indonesian officials regarding a potential transit levy on ships. The meeting serves as a milestone as the two nations approach the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027, with Singapore remaining Indonesia's largest source of foreign direct investment.