President Prabowo Subianto is welcomed with a grand state ceremony by President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Türkiye, Thursday (04/10). (Photo: BPMI of the Presidential Secretariat).
President Prabowo Subianto was welcomed with a grand state welcoming ceremony by President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on his return visit at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Türkiye, Thursday (04/10).
As the presidential motorcade approached the palace, several videotrons displayed welcoming messages for President Prabowo. Once the motorcade entered the palace grounds, a ceremonial cavalry unit welcomed President Prabowo. The special troops accompanied President Prabowo’s vehicle all the way to the main courtyard, adding a solemn and historic tone to the ceremony.
Upon arrival at the palace courtyard, President Prabowo was personally welcomed by President Erdoğan . The two leaders then walked side by side toward the podium, where the official ceremony commenced. The national anthem of Indonesia “Indonesia Raya” and Türkiye’s anthem “İstiklâl Marşı” were played, accompanied by 21 gun salutes in honor of the visit.
The ceremony further featured an aerial fly-past by three helicopters carrying the national flags of Türkiye and Indonesia. As a marching band performed the Indonesian patriotic song “Halo-Halo Bandung” and an honor guard stood at attention, the two Presidents descended from the podium, walked to their respective national flags, saluted, and then proceeded before the assembled guard of honor.
The spectacle was made even more special by the presence of two distinct types of troops: the traditional Turkish military in blue uniforms and a ceremonial Ottoman battalion in attire reminiscent of the Ottoman Empire. As he reached the center of the troop formation, President Prabowo paused and respectfully greeted the troops in Turkish, saying “Merhaba Asker,” which was proudly returned with a salute, creating a moving and solemn moment.
Afterward, the Commander of the troops delivered a formal report to President Prabowo and President Erdoğan. The two leaders then proceeded to greet and introduce the members of their respective delegations from Indonesia and Türkiye.
The welcoming ceremony concluded as the Presidents ascended the seven steps leading to the main entrance of the palace. Before entering the meeting room, the two leaders paused for an official group photo session in front of the palace doors—symbolizing the increasingly close bilateral relationship between the two nations.
Also present at the ceremony were Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Suharyanto, Head of the Presidential Communications Office Hasan Nasbi, and Indonesian Ambassador to Türkiye Achmad Rizal Purnama. (BPMI of the Presidential Secretariat) (RI/TM)
