Jakarta, October 27, 2026 – The Europe Today: Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir on Tuesday hosted his Singaporean counterpart, Vivian Balakrishnan, for high-level bilateral talks in Jakarta, as the two neighboring countries addressed issues of mutual concern amid recent adjustments to Indonesia’s natural gas supplies to Singapore.
The meeting began at the Pancasila Building of Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where Minister Arrmanatha welcomed Balakrishnan with a handshake before inviting him to sign the official guestbook and pose for photographs with the media.
The two foreign ministers subsequently held a closed-door, one-on-one meeting to discuss key bilateral matters and regional developments, followed by a joint press statement.
The diplomatic engagement comes as Indonesia has begun adjusting its natural gas exports to Singapore, drawing attention to energy cooperation between the two Southeast Asian neighbors.
Last week, Head of Indonesia’s Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas (SKK Migas), Djoko Siswanto, announced that the country had initiated a reduction in gas exports to Singapore from October 24. The adjustment involved cuts of 15 billion British thermal units per day (BBTUD) from the Natuna fields and 16 BBTUD from Sumatra.
Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Downstream and Energy Transition, Bahlil Lahadalia, said on October 26 that the adjustment remained within the minimum contractual supply thresholds. He described the reduction as approximately eight percent, against a permissible limit of 10 percent, and maintained that it did not constitute a breach of the agreement.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Indonesia’s National Economic Council, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, sought to dispel concerns that the development could lead to diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Speaking on Tuesday, Luhut emphasized that Indonesia was prioritizing its national interests while maintaining constructive relations with Singapore. He questioned the prospect of a dispute between the neighbors, saying there was no reason for the two countries to engage in a confrontation.
The talks underscore the importance of continued diplomatic engagement between Indonesia and Singapore as both countries navigate energy supply arrangements while seeking to preserve strong bilateral relations and regional cooperation.
