President Prabowo welcomes Thaksin Shinawatra and family to Jakarta

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto hosted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family at his private residence on Kertanegara Street in Jakarta on Wednesday evening.

The delegation included Thaksin’s daughter and fellow former Thai prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Images released on social media by the Indonesian Cabinet Secretariat described the atmosphere of the gathering as "warm and cordial."

According to the secretariat, the informal meeting allowed both sides to deepen a long-standing friendship while exchanging views on strategic global developments and regional dynamics.

The statement emphasised that such engagements are part of Jakarta's broader effort to strengthen ties with global figures and solidify Indonesia's position amid changing geopolitical dynamics.

Thaksin, who served as prime minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, maintains close ties with Indonesia, where he currently serves as a member of the advisory board for the Danantara Investment Management Agency (BPI Danantara). His freedom to travel follows a full royal pardon granted early last month.

The meeting was also a reunion of President Prabowo and Paetongtarn, who last met during Prabowo's state visit to Bangkok on May 19 last year, during her tenure as Thailand's prime minister.

Paetongtarn was removed from office on August 29, 2025, by Thailand's Constitutional Court following a public leak of a phone conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen concerning a border dispute. Shortly after her ouster, she stepped down as the leader of the Pheu Thai Party.

Her removal triggered a major political shift in Bangkok. Last September, Anutin Charnvirakul, of the conservative Bhumjaithai Party, won a parliamentary vote to become prime minister. His position was subsequently confirmed by the people of Thailand when his party won the general election in February this year.