Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will make a state visit to the United States this month to sign a long-negotiated reciprocal tariff agreement with Washington and attend the inaugural Board of Peace summit hosted by the U.S. administration. The trip is scheduled for February 19, Jakarta officials said.
Prabowo’s planned appearance in Washington follows months of bilateral negotiations aimed at reducing tariffs between the two nations. Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto confirmed that President Prabowo will finalise and sign the Agreement on Reciprocal Tariff (ART) during the visit, which comes as both sides seek to deepen trade ties and expand market access for key exports.
Under the emerging deal, the United States has already cut its import tariff on Indonesian goods to 19 percent from earlier proposals of up to 32 percent, according to officials. The ART will also involve reciprocal concessions on market access and efforts to address non-tariff barriers affecting U.S. products seeking entry into Indonesia’s economy.
The Board of Peace summit in Washington represents a foreign policy component of the trip, convening global leaders to discuss post-conflict reconstruction and diplomatic cooperation. Prabowo has confirmed his attendance and said he intends to use the platform to advocate for Palestinian independence and Gaza’s recovery, reflecting Indonesia’s longstanding support for a two-state solution.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela said Prabowo’s presence at the summit underscores Indonesia’s commitment to shaping the Board’s mission from its inception and to pushing for civilian protection and sustainable peace in the Middle East.
Diplomatically, the visit also highlights strengthening ties between Jakarta and Washington as Indonesia seeks to balance its strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region. The reciprocal tariff agreement, if signed, would mark a significant step in economic cooperation and could bolster Indonesian exports in sectors like palm oil, coffee, and other commodities long affected by higher U.S. duties.
The Board of Peace is a new U.S.-backed initiative intended to coordinate international efforts around post-conflict governance, reconstruction and humanitarian relief, particularly in Gaza. World leaders invited to the summit include representatives from multiple continents, reflecting broad interest in the initiative’s agenda.
Analysts say the timing of the visit will test Indonesia’s diplomatic balance: advocating for Middle East peace while also negotiating trade terms that could reshape its economic relationship with the world’s largest economy. Observers note that Jakarta has historically pursued diversified foreign relations, including strong ASEAN ties and cooperation with major powers.
Prabowo’s trip is set against a backdrop of regional geopolitical shifts, with both economic cooperation and conflict resolution at the forefront. The outcomes of the Board of Peace summit and the tariff agreement are likely to influence Indonesia’s international position and economic trajectory in the year ahead.