Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan thanked more than 150 Indonesian rescuers on May 12 after a Mount Dukono eruption in North Maluku killed 3 hikers, including 2 Singaporeans and 1 Indonesian. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Balakrishnan met Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono in Jakarta during a working visit to Indonesia from May 11 to 13. He said the response showed the strength of ties between the two countries, saying, "You know, these sort of things you cannot pay for or demand," and adding that Singaporeans and Indonesians had shown "the closeness of the hearts" between the two peoples. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The eruption happened on May 8, and the ministers later discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in energy, food security, industrial growth, trade, investment, cross-border activity, and digital and green economy opportunities. Sugiono said the two countries had built "a very strong partnership defined by strategic trust, mutual benefit, and shared purpose." Balakrishnan said he saw Indonesia as "a superpower in energy" and said the challenge was to get investments flowing and projects built. [1, 5]
The talks also covered regional security, with Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia working to keep the Strait of Malacca and Singapore open and safe under UNCLOS-based cooperation. Balakrishnan also cited the conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as pressure points for energy supplies and inflation. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Both sides said they want to deepen cooperation as they mark 60 years of diplomatic ties in 2027. Balakrishnan's working visit to Indonesia was scheduled to end on May 13. [5, 1, 2, 3, 4]
