November 14, 2025 | 04:00 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - King of Jordan Abdullah II is scheduled to visit Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta this weekend. Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin highlights the historical relationship between the two leaders.
With the existence of these personal ties, Sjafrie mentioned that the relations between Indonesia and Jordan are not restricted to formal relations. "It's interesting, how the relationship between Indonesia and Jordan is not only 'government to government,' but also directly 'people to people,'" said Sjafrie in his office on Friday, November 14, 2025.
He said the personal ties between Prabowo and King Abdullah II have been going on for a very long time. They have known each other since their time in the special forces of their respective countries. "They have known each other since they both were active in the special forces, and it has continued to the present,'"said Sjafrie.
According to Sjafrie, the cooperation between Indonesia and Jordan can stem from Prabowo's personal conversations with King Abdullah II. For example, when Prabowo visited Jordan a few months ago.
At that time, Sjafrie said, Prabowo and King Abdullah II started the conversation on personal topics. "From that personal conversation, it resulted in a discussion between nations," he said.
Sjafrie claimed that Prabowo's personal relationship has helped Indonesia's relations with Jordan. "So this is the benefit of people-to-people contact, especially in the historical relationship between King Abdullah of Jordan and President Prabowo," said the retired army general.
King Abdullah and President Prabowo are both alumni of the ranger school at the United States Army Fort Benning. They first met on December 4, 1995, during Prabowo's inauguration as the Commander of the Special Forces (Kopassus).
Prabowo went into exile in Jordan after his military career unraveled in 1998, a decision he discussed on Twitter (now X) on February 26, 2014. "In the middle of 1998, I was accused of various things. Therefore, I chose to go into exile in Jordan," Prabowo tweeted.
Abdullah II then ascended to the throne as the King of Jordan in 1999, while Prabowo was inaugurated as President of Indonesia on October 20, 2024.
After becoming president, Prabowo visited Jordan on April 13, 2025. King Abdullah II returns the visit to Jakarta this November.
Editor’s Choice: Prabowo Interested in Learning Jordanian Agricultural Technology
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