The Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Indonesia (FIB UI), held an in-depth discussion on the development of Indonesia–Russia bilateral relations and the shifting landscape of global geopolitics in the post-war era and the expansion of BRICS on October 16, 2025, at the Auditorium 1 Toeti Heraty Noerhadi. The event featured the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, Jose Antonio Morato Tavares, as the keynote speaker, with Dr. Thera Widyastuti, Head of the Russian Studies Program at FIB UI, serving as moderator.
In his presentation, Ambassador Jose emphasized that Indonesia and Russia have maintained relations since the 19th century, which have continued to grow through cooperation in diplomacy, defense, education, and culture. Russia has become an important partner for Indonesia, as reflected in the significant increase in trade and investment value over the past five years.
“Indonesia’s accession as a full member of BRICS since 2025 reflects our commitment to an independent and active foreign policy, while also presenting a strategic opportunity to strengthen Indonesia’s position within the non-Western global economic architecture,” said Ambassador Jose.
In addition to discussing geopolitical dimensions such as the Ukraine issue, NATO expansion, and the principle of indivisible security, Ambassador Jose also highlighted the growing interest among young Indonesians pursuing higher education in Russia. According to data from the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow, more than 300 Indonesian students are currently studying for undergraduate to doctoral degrees in major Russian cities such as Moscow, Kazan, Tomsk, and St. Petersburg.
The long-standing good relations between Indonesia and Russia were also highlighted by the leadership of FIB UI in a speech delivered by Acting Dean of FIB UI, Dr. Taufik Asmiyanto, M.Si. He noted that the cooperation covers various strategic areas, including politics, economics, culture, technology, and education. The Russian Studies Program at FIB UI is one of only two in Indonesia, alongside the one at Padjadjaran University. The program has established partnerships with several universities in Russia, including Moscow Lomonosov University, St. Petersburg University, and Tomsk State University. Collaborative activities include student and faculty exchanges, Russian language teaching training, and joint research projects.
The event, also part of the Ambassadorial Lecture Series on Humanities (AleSH), was attended by students, lecturers, and researchers from various faculties at Universitas Indonesia, who showed great enthusiasm in exploring new perspectives on global power dynamics. The discussion is expected to strengthen the geopolitical literacy of the FIB UI academic community and open opportunities for future academic collaboration and cultural diplomacy between Indonesia and Russia. (Trans-CA)
