Ambassador Balfakeeh Meets Megawati Soekarnoputri to Disc...

H.E. Ambassador Salem Ahmed Balfakeeh met on Monday, 31 August 2026, with Mrs. Megawati Soekarnoputri, the fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia and Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), at her residence in Jakarta, in the presence of a number of senior party officials. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the deep-rooted historical and social ties between Yemen and Indonesia, as well as the contributions of Indonesians of Yemeni descent to Indonesia’s independence movement and nation-building. They also discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations and broaden areas of cooperation between the two countries. Ambassador Balfakeeh briefed Mrs. Megawati on the latest developments in Yemen and the region, highlighting the threat posed by the escalation of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to regional security and stability, as well as to the safety of maritime navigation and international trade in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. He also pointed to the expansion of arms-smuggling networks and the continued flow of weapons to the militia, as well as its growing ties and cooperation with terrorist groups and organizations, all of which further compound the risks to regional stability and threaten regional and international shipping lanes. The Ambassador further referred to the attack on the commercial vessel Tihamah in the Bab al-Mandab Strait on 11 August 2026, which resulted in the death of one Indonesian seafarer and injuries to two others. He conveyed his condolences to the family of the deceased and expressed his sympathy with those injured. He underscored the importance of safeguarding maritime navigation and the crews of commercial vessels, as well as supporting the efforts of the legitimate Government of Yemen. He reaffirmed the Yemeni Government’s commitment to achieving a genuine, just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace based on the agreed terms of reference and relevant international resolutions, foremost among them United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216, leading to the restoration of state institutions, an end to the coup, and the exclusive control of arms by the state and its constitutional and legal institutions. For her part, Mrs. Megawati expressed her appreciation for the deep historical ties between the two countries and their friendly peoples, and showed particular interest in developments in Yemen and the region. She stressed the importance of continuing to strengthen Yemeni-Indonesian relations, supporting efforts to achieve security, stability, and peace, and maintaining communication on issues of mutual interest.