Singapore, Indonesia leaders hold top-level talks to resolve bilateral tensions, says Vivian

Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir (right) and Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan walk together after their bilateral meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta on October 27, 2026. — AFP pic

First Published: Thursday, 29 Oct 2026 10:20 AM MYT

SINGAPORE, Oct 29 — Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto have held high-level communication amid recent bilateral challenges.

Singapore Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said the communication has established political commitment on both sides to do “what is necessary,” and that the focus now is to implement and execute the plans and commitment.

“I am not at liberty to discuss the details, but just let me give you the assurance that communication has occurred at the highest level between my prime minister and with President Prabowo,” he told Singapore media following the conclusion of his working visit to Indonesia on Wednesday.

He was asked about the state of bilateral relations between Singapore and Indonesia following recent developments, as well as details of his meeting with Prabowo the same day. The transcript of the interview was made available by Singapore’s Foreign Ministry.

Balakrishnan described his visit to Jakarta as also involving engagement at the highest level, having met his newly appointed counterpart, Indonesia Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir, as well as having called on Prabowo.

“We had good conversations, honest conversations, sincere conversations, and we have come up with a few constructive approaches, some of which we are in the midst of implementing.

Balakrishnan said their announcement yesterday (Tuesday) on the Joint Task Force “is a recognition that in the case of haze, it is a transboundary problem and it requires a collegiate, collective response on the part of both Indonesia and Singapore.”

The minister said the task force aims to facilitate a collective response, enhance information sharing, and strengthen coordination to deter companies engaging in such anti-social and, frankly, dangerous acts.

“We can also hold them accountable, and we can try our best to make sure that this does not recur,” he added. — Bernama