President Joe Biden should immediately congratulate Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto on his presumptive victory in the country’s presidential election on February 14. This simple action would signal that the U.S. government understands new and evolving political realities in Asia. China, our geopolitical and economic competitor in the Indo-Pacific, has already done it. So have … Read more
In a global system characterized by geopolitical turbulence, Indonesia stands as a rising economy and key player in international affairs. Over the past two decades, Indonesia has experienced strong economic growth. By 2030, the thriving republic is projected to become one of the world’s seven largest economies and to enter the top five by 2050. … Read more
Two months after the upgrading of U.S.-Vietnam relations, the White House announced on November 13 that the United States and Indonesia had decided to elevate their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. It was the latest achievement in Washington’s effort to expand its network of partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region and thus deter China’s rising … Read more
Indonesia’s President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo urged Joe Biden to “do more” to stop Israel’s ruthless assaults on the Gaza Strip, as the two leaders met in Washington and announced a major upgrade to their bilateral relationship. Biden welcomed the Indonesian leader to the White House yesterday, in a bid to strengthen trade and defense ties … Read more
On Monday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo will hold a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday, prior to next week’s APEC Leaders’ Meeting in San Francisco. There will no doubt be a number of issues on the agenda, but according to some reports, one shared interest is both countries’ … Read more
With major crises in Gaza and Ukraine, the Biden administration might be tempted to overlook the importance of Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s mid-November visit to Washington. That would be a mistake. Indonesia is an important country that is heading into crucial presidential elections in early 2024, and the results of Jokowi’s visit could go … Read more
Advertisement Imagine this scenario: an Indonesian company is drilling for oil within its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, when the platform is suddenly swarmed by Chinese navy and coast guard vessels. Not far away, there is a U.S. Navy ship, perhaps on a routine patrol through contested waters. What does the Indonesian … Read more
Advertisement Indonesia’s $20 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), announced last November by U.S. President Biden, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, is reaching an early critical juncture. The stakes involved are high, encompassing climate change, economics, U.S.-Indonesian relations, and geopolitics. Under the Partnership, an International Partners Group (IPG), made up … Read more