Meeting President Biden at the White House, President Jokowi: Indonesia Urges US to Do More to Stop Violence in Gaza

President Jokowi with President Biden. (Source: BPMI Presidential Secretariat/Laily Rachev)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) hopes that the United States will do more to stop violence in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, when he met with President Joe Biden at the White House, Washington D.C, Monday local time.

President Biden welcomed Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the White House, before the two leaders attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco.

"Indonesia calls on the US to do more to stop the atrocities in Gaza. A ceasefire is a necessity for humanity," said President Jokowi in the Oval Office before holding talks with President Biden, reported by Reuters, November 14.

The two leaders are expected to agree on a number of new cooperation between the two countries, such as in the areas of defense, including cyber security, space, joint exercises, and nuclear threats, according to a senior Biden administration official who declined to be named.

On climate, the United States will announce joint steps with the Southeast Asian country on carbon capture and storage, supporting the power grid, and improving air quality.

"The president will also ask Indonesia to play a bigger role and help us in the Middle East," said the US official, without explaining further what the impact of expanding that role would be.

Previously, President Jokowi in a press statement on Sunday said he would convey the results of the OIC Summit meeting to President Biden, as well as convey the message of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

"I will also convey a message from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who asked me specifically to convey it to President Biden," said President Jokowi.

"A ceasefire must be realized immediately, humanitarian aid must be accelerated and increased, peace negotiations must begin immediately, public facilities and humanitarian activities must not be the target of attacks, and Israel must be held accountable for the atrocities it has committed," he stressed.