Jakarta — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced that Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to pursue an interim solution to the longstanding maritime boundary dispute in the Ambalat region.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Friday, President Prabowo emphasized the shared commitment to prioritizing national interests while advancing mutually beneficial cooperation.
“We have agreed to seek a win-win solution. For instance, in the Ambalat area, while awaiting a legal resolution, we intend to initiate economic cooperation through a joint development mechanism. Whatever resources are discovered in the waters will be fairly and jointly exploited,” said Prabowo.
He underlined that both governments are placing the welfare of their people above all else, affirming that pragmatism and collaboration will guide their approach to shared challenges.
On broader geopolitical issues, Prabowo and Anwar also discussed the importance of global cooperation in promoting peace amid ongoing international conflicts.
“At the global level, we discussed developments in the Iran-Israel conflict and the current situation in Palestine. We continue to advocate peaceful solutions from all sides and welcome the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran,” Prabowo stated.
“We hope this process will lead to lasting peace,” he added.
Echoing Prabowo’s remarks, Prime Minister Anwar affirmed that both nations are aligned in their efforts to resolve maritime and border disputes. He called for immediate action to launch economic cooperation in contested areas like Ambalat, rather than waiting for lengthy legal processes.
“There is no barrier to starting joint economic initiatives, such as a joint development authority in the Ambalat region. Waiting for a legal settlement could take another two decades,” Anwar warned. “It is better to make use of the time now to deliver tangible benefits for people living in border areas.”
The bilateral meeting was attended by several senior Indonesian officials, including Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Foreign Minister Sugiono, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani, Minister of Communications and Digital Meutya Hafid, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
