Downing Street said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke with Indonesia’s President, Prabowo Subianto, from Johannesburg on Saturday 22 November, alongside the G20 Leaders’ Summit. The call focused on security cooperation and regional issues, according to the official readout.
No 10’s summary stated the leaders welcomed a new £4bn maritime partnership and that the Prime Minister viewed it as the basis for a long‑term defence relationship. Both sides said it would support jobs and growth in the UK and Indonesia.
Additional details released to media indicate the programme is led by Babcock, with vessels to be constructed in Indonesia using British shipbuilding expertise. The UK government has said the arrangement is expected to support around 1,000 jobs domestically.
Beyond defence industry cooperation, the leaders agreed to deepen ties on education and economic growth. This follows the UK–Indonesia Strategic Partnership signed in November 2024, which included work on maritime surveillance, tackling illegal fishing and building resilient supply chains for critical minerals.
On Gaza, the Prime Minister welcomed Indonesia’s commitments to contribute to an International Stabilisation Force. The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2803 on 17 November 2025, endorsing a comprehensive plan for Gaza, authorising an ISF and establishing transitional governance arrangements; the measure passed with 13 votes in favour and two abstentions.
Discussing Ukraine, the Prime Minister said partners must move further and faster to cut off Russian energy revenues. Recent UK steps include tightening the G7 crude price cap to $47.60 per barrel from 2 September 2025 and sanctioning entities and tankers linked to Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’.
Analysis: For UK suppliers, a programme on this scale typically means multi‑year design support, training and through‑life services, even with shipbuilding sited in Indonesia. However, neither No 10 nor industry has published a delivery schedule, vessel classes or financing terms at this stage, so commercial scope and timelines remain to be set out by departments and firms.
The call concluded with both leaders committing to remain in close contact. Officials highlighted broader UK–Indonesia cooperation across education and trade as areas for follow‑up once defence industrial particulars are confirmed.