Qatar Defense Minister to Visit Indonesian Defense Ministry After Meeting President Widodo

Indonesian President Joko Widodo hosted Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. The visit, occurring on Monday, June 1, 2026, underscored efforts to deepen bilateral ties between Indonesia and Qatar.

During the meeting, Sheikh Saoud conveyed a special message from the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, to President Widodo. The Indonesian President welcomed the message and reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to enhancing its relationship with Qatar. Both leaders also explored avenues for follow-up on existing cooperation across various sectors.

This engagement follows a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Strategic Dialogue signed in April 2025 by Indonesian President Prabowo and the Emir of Qatar. The Qatari Defense Minister's visit is expected to further solidify this partnership, with a planned visit to the Indonesian Ministry of Defense on the horizon.