In Front Of Joe Biden, Jokowi Reiterates That The War Won't Benefit Anyone: No Other Choice, Stop It Right Now!

President Joko Widodo attends a dinner with United States President Joe Biden at the White House, Washington DC (Photo: BPMI Setpres/Laily Rachev)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo has asked to end the war in Ukraine now. War will never benefit anyone.

Jokowi said that at the ASEAN-US Special Summit held at the US Department of Foreign Affairs, Washington DC, Friday, May 13, 2022. This event was also attended by US President Joe Biden. Jokowi was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Trade Muhammad Lutfi, and the Indonesian Ambassador to the US Rosan Roeslani.

The war in Ukraine has created a humanitarian tragedy and worsened the world economy. Jokowi said that the increase in food, energy and inflation prices had occurred, severely weighing on the economy and slowing the achievement of the SDGs in developing and least developed countries.

“While the world should quickly recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is facing a new problem, the war in Ukraine. When the world needs cooperation and collaboration, the rivalry and confrontation are getting sharper. When the world needs multilateralism that is getting stronger, it is unilateralism that is getting more and more prominent," said President Jokowi.

Furthermore, the President also said that the war in Ukraine has weakened multilateralism and has the potential to divide relations between countries.

“War won't benefit anyone. The world has no other choice but to stop the war right now. Every country, every leader has the responsibility to create an enabling environment so that war can be stopped, peace can be realized," said the President.

Economic growth, according to President Jokowi, is also concerning. The IMF lowered its prediction for economic growth in emerging and developing Asia by 0.5 percent in 2022 and 0.2 percent in 2023. And the World Bank lowered its economic growth prediction for several ASEAN countries to 1.2 percent.

"For some ASEAN members, a 10 percent increase in oil prices will result in a 0.7 percent decrease in national income and an increase in wheat prices will result in a 1 percent increase in poverty," the President explained.

The President reiterated what was said at the meeting with Congress. "For more than five decades, ASEAN has continued to build an inclusive security architecture, put forward a collaboration paradigm, encourage a habit of dialogue and rules based orders. We encourage the same spirit in the Indo-Pacific through the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific," explained the President.

President Jokowi welcomed the American initiative through the Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

“Of course, cooperation under IPEF must be inclusive. I hope the synergy between IPEF and the implementation of priority cooperation in the AOIP (ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific)," said President Jokowi.

When Indonesia becomes the chair of ASEAN next year, President Jokowi also conveys his plan to hold the Indo Pacific Infrastructure Forum.

"I look forward to the participation of the United States in the forum," concluded the President.