President Prabowo Subianto penned a handwritten note affirming his commitment to bolstering friendship and cooperation between Indonesia and the UK during his state visit to London on January 20, 2026. In talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the leaders agreed on a memorandum of understanding for fishing vessel construction and educational partnerships with the Russell Group. The visit also featured discussions on maritime economic ties and plans for 10 new UK-standard universities in Indonesia.
President Prabowo Subianto arrived in London for a state visit on January 20, 2026, where he met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street. The bilateral talks lasted over an hour, covering a new strategic partnership, maritime cooperation, and education.
Prabowo highlighted the UK's support for Indonesia's plan to build 1,500 fishing vessels to boost the fisheries economy and fishermen's livelihoods. "(On cooperation) in the maritime sector, they will support our plan to build 1,500 fishing ships, because we want to invest on a large scale," Prabowo stated. He also noted his meeting with Babcock's CEO, a UK shipbuilding firm, as a key step for Indonesia's maritime development, given that three-quarters of the country is ocean and public protein consumption remains low.
The leaders agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding for fishing vessel construction, aimed at promoting fisheries growth and marine resource management. Starmer praised the maritime deal for creating jobs in the UK.
In education, Prabowo appreciated discussions with the Russell Group, a consortium of 24 leading universities including Oxford and Cambridge. "The meeting with the Russell Group leaders was very productive," he said. He revealed plans to establish 10 new universities in Indonesia to UK standards, focusing on medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and technology, with English as the medium of instruction. Indonesia faces a shortage of about 140,000 doctors, producing only 9,000 graduates annually. Top students will receive full scholarships and IELTS training via the British Council. Each campus will include teaching hospitals to improve national healthcare.
During the visit, Prabowo met business delegates at Lancaster House with Deputy PM David Lammy in a working lunch format. The next agenda is a meeting with King Charles III on January 21. Prabowo also wrote a handwritten note: "I am committed to enhancing and strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the UK and Indonesia. I am confident that this friendship and cooperation will benefit both, for our countries and our peoples," signed January 20, 2026.
The visit strengthens bilateral ties following the strategic partnership, emphasizing economic benefits and human resource development.
