Prabowo Vows to Revive Garuda Indonesia, Eyes Boeing Deal with US
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — President Prabowo Subianto has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to rebuilding national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, which he called a symbol of Indonesia’s sovereignty. As part of that strategy, the airline will purchase new aircraft from Boeing, a move closely tied to ongoing trade negotiations with the United States.
Speaking at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport on Wednesday upon his return from a series of overseas visits—including a guest of honor appearance at France’s Bastille Day celebrations—Prabowo said the aircraft deal reflects a broader diplomatic push to strengthen economic ties with Washington.
He noted that Indonesia and the US had recently agreed to lower import tariffs on Indonesian goods from 32% to 19%. However, he added that the government would continue to pursue further reductions. “If I were satisfied, it would be zero percent,” he said with a laugh. He described former US President Donald Trump, with whom he spoke during the trip, as a tough but pragmatic negotiator.
The Boeing purchase, Prabowo explained, was one point of convergence in the trade talks. “Garuda is our pride. It was born during the war of independence. So Garuda must be the emblem of Indonesia. We are determined to revive Garuda,” he said.
He emphasized that the acquisition of new aircraft is not a problem for Indonesia, which needs to expand Garuda’s fleet. The President also signaled openness to collaborating with Airbus. “We need planes; they want to sell. That’s where interests align,” he said.
In addition to the aircraft deal, the broader trade agreement includes steps to reduce Indonesia’s trade surplus with the US. Prabowo acknowledged that Indonesia continues to import key commodities like fuel, gas, wheat, and soybeans, providing opportunities for US exports. Yet, he insisted that any agreement would not come at the expense of domestic workers or industries.
“We’ve calculated everything and negotiated thoroughly. What matters to me is protecting our people and workers. We’re making an offer. This is what we can give, but we won’t go beyond that. Our workers must be protected,” he asserted.
Looking ahead, Prabowo announced plans to visit the US in September or October to continue talks directly with Trump. In a lighter moment, he joked about the prospect of playing golf with the former president. “But I’d be nervous if he invited me. My golf game is terrible. I’ll need private lessons,” he said.
Prabowo closed his remarks with optimism about the nation’s economic trajectory. He expressed confidence that mutually beneficial global partnerships would help Indonesia weather external challenges without compromising its national interests.