Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto does not attend the ongoing G7 Summit in Canada due to prior commitments, including state visits to Singapore and Russia, according to Presidential Communications Office (PCO) head Hasan Nasbi.

Nasbi emphasized on Monday that Prabowo’s absence is not related to any geopolitical alignment or preference for certain blocs or countries.

"The president received numerous honorary invitations from various countries, but some of them overlapped in schedule and were geographically distant—Canada, Russia, and Singapore. The government appreciates all of these invitations," he said.

He explained that invitations to attend forums such as the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Russia and the Leaders’ Retreat in Singapore were received and planned well in advance, while the G7 invitation was only received in early June.

At SPIEF, scheduled for June 18–21, Prabowo is set to deliver a keynote speech. Meanwhile, his visit to Singapore has resulted in more than 10 high-value bilateral agreements for Indonesia.

In response to questions about the president’s G7 absence, Nasbi reaffirmed Indonesia’s longstanding free and active foreign policy.

"Indonesia does not align itself with any bloc. We do not see the world in black and white. Speculations suggesting otherwise are unfounded," he said.

“In fact, we’ve just reached an important milestone in our path toward OECD membership, while continuing to actively participate in BRICS, the G20, and APEC,” he added.

Nasbi stressed that Indonesia’s involvement in international forums is based on national interest and strategic value.

"We will not join military or defense blocs. We will participate in economic groupings as long as they offer benefits to the country," he said.

He urged the public not to be swayed by geopolitical narratives, emphasizing that the president’s international agenda is based on careful consideration and prior commitments.

Related news: Prabowo invited to G7 Summit, signals Indonesia's global rise
Related news: Prabowo invited to G7 Summit as special guest


Translator: Andi Firdaus, Mentari Dwi G., Yashinta Difa
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2025