President Biden and President Jokowi Agree on the United States-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

President Jokowi with President Biden. (Twitter/@White House)

JAKARTA - President Joe Biden and President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) agreed to increase cooperative relations between the two countries, when they met in the Oval Room, White House, Washington D.C. Monday local time.

Welcoming President Jokowi, President Biden thanked and praised the hospitality he received when attending the G20 Summit in Bali last year.

President Biden said that, commemorating 75 years of cooperation between the two countries, he believes that the partnership between Jakarta and Washington will be stronger than before and will continue to get stronger.

"Today, we are talking about bringing our relationship to launch the highest possible level of cooperation: a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," said President Biden in a White House release, as quoted Tuesday, November 14.

"This will mark a new era between us, in the relationship between the United States and Indonesia as a whole, which will affect everything. This includes increasing security cooperation, especially maritime security. It also includes expanding our cooperation to build sustainable supply chains safe and resilient. This includes deepening our collaboration to combat the climate crisis," explained President Biden, adding "Indonesia is an important player in the world's environmentally friendly energy transition."

On this occasion, President Biden also praised Indonesia's leadership in ASEAN this year, ensuring that it was ready to work together to advance a free, open, safe and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Meanwhile, President Jokowi, who also praised the US as one of Indonesia's most important partners, said that increasing the partnership between the two countries must be able to provide real meaning.

"We agreed to upgrade our partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. But most importantly, we must give real meaning to it," said President Jokowi.

President Jokowi added that Indonesia also hopes that the partnership between the two countries can contribute to regional and global peace and prosperity.

"Therefore, Indonesia asks the US to do more to stop the atrocities in Gaza. A ceasefire is a necessity for humanity," stressed President Jokowi.

Today, President Biden met with President Joko Widodo of Indonesia to reaffirm our nearly 75-year-long partnership. The two leaders discussed enhancing cooperation on the clean energy transition, advancing economic prosperity, and bolstering regional peace and stability. pic.twitter.com/JNHKBlBU7c

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 14, 2023