President Soeharto's Last State Visit For Soviet Union In Today's History, September 12, 1989

Mrs. Tien Suharto received a bouquet of flowers from Raisa Gorbachev as witnessed by President Gorbachev and President Suharto in Moscow, the Soviet Union on September 6-12, 1989. (Doc. National Library)

JAKARTA History today, 33 years ago, September 12, 1989, President Soeharto closed his state visit to the Soviet Union. He was in the Soviet Union for six days. The visit was deliberately made to reopen the friendly relationship between Jakarta and Moscow which had been disrupted.

Previously, relations between Indonesia and the Soviet Union were known to be close in the era of President Soekarno. The Soviet Union helped Indonesia a lot. Vice versa. However, everything changed when Soekarno's power ended.

The relationship between Indonesia and the Soviet Union was once at the most intimate level in history. The illustration of a warm relationship can be seen in Soekarno and Nikita Khrushchev's close friendship. The relationship between the two countries is getting warmer when the two countries visit each other in their respective countries.

Soekarno visited Moscow in 1956. Even though Khrushchev was still listed as an official of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. All because Soekarno loved the communist system. After that, Khrushchev replied to the visit when he was the number one person in the Soviet Union in 1960.

The proximity of ideology is the estuary. Soekarno's Marhaenism concept is considered close to the communist system. The closeness of the two has a big impact on their respective countries. Cooperation in all lines is perpetuated. The Soviet Union helped Indonesia a lot. Vice versa.

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last President of the Soviet Union died on August 30th, 2022, on 91st years old. (The Times/Yousuf Karsh/Camera Press) 

The Soviet Union also supported Indonesia a lot. From capital to military capital. The Dutch were shocked to see the development of the Indonesian military when they were still in dispute over West Irian. On the other hand, the Soviet Union's assistance for many of Bung Karno's lighthouse projects went smoothly. Development of the Bung Karno Sports Center (Gelora), for example.

“On his long trip to the Soviet Union and China in 1956, Soekarno was impressed by the communist system. He borrowed ideas from those countries in his defense of guided democracy. Only through this way, Soekarno said, can the goal of a just and prosperous Indonesian society be achieved. He also strongly criticized democracy in western countries with the fifty-plus one system. "

“This is in accordance with the tradition of gotong royong, Javanese, and deliberation. In his conception, in February 1957, he also fought for the idea of ​​the need for a gotong royong cabinet and a National Council that was functionally composed of all levels of Indonesian society such as farmers, merchants, students, teaching staff, and women," said Bob Hering in the book Soekarno: Arsitek Bangsa (2012).

In fact, the 'intimate' relationship between Indonesia and the Soviet Union had to end after Soekarno stepped down in 1966. The presence of Soeharto and the New Order (Orba) became a cause. Soeharto was more inclined to cooperate with western countries. United States, especially.

This closeness made relations between Indonesia and the Soviet Union tenuous. Soeharto realized that. However, the act of rapprochement was only carried out in 1989. At that time Soeharto made a six-day visit to the Soviet Union, 7-12 September. He was well received by the leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev.

On the last day of the visit, September 12, 1989, Soeharto hoped that relations between the two countries would quickly strengthen as usual. However, hope is good. Relationships that exist are purely business. Not friendship.

When the government of President Soeharto realized this situation, a breakthrough was attempted. On September 7-12, 1989, President Soeharto visited the Soviet Union. During this visit, the Commission on the Basis of Friendship and Cooperation Relations between Indonesia and the Soviet Union was signed.

In the field, the agreed cooperation has not paid many results. The Soviet Union News Agency "Tass" described the flat relationship between the two countries at that time as: business like," explained Tomi Lebang in the book Sahabat Lama, Era Baru: 60 Tahun Pasang Surut Hubungan Indonesia-Rusia (2010)(2010).