Joe Biden's Warm Welcome to Jokowi Reflects U.S. Trust in Indonesia: KSP
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15 May 2022 11:54 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The warm welcome extended by United States President Joe Biden to Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reflects the U.S.'s trust in Indonesia, the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) has said.
The KSP issued the statement to refute speculations regarding a US cold shoulder to Indonesia after it invited Russia to the G20 summit.
KSP main expert staff Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin pointed to Biden's warm gesture to Jokowi during the ASEAN-US Summit in Washington D.C. on May 13 to address speculations that the Indonesian President was not warmly welcomed by the U.S.
"President Biden's friendly attitude remained the same as it was when he served as a Vice President under President Barack Obama's administration, especially during his 2015 state visit," Dzuhayatin affirmed on Saturday.
She said she viewed President Biden's warm welcome to President Jokowi as important for Indonesia, both bilaterally, regionally, and multilaterally.
Bilaterally, it shows the US’s confidence in the potential of US investment in Indonesia and Indonesian exports in the form of finished commodities, such as electric car batteries and other downstream commodities.
Regionally, it reflects the US’s confidence in Indonesia as the coordinator of the ASEAN-US partnership. Moreover, this is the first time in 45 years that the ASEAN-US Special Summit meetings have been held at the White House and in Washington D.C.
"President Obama once invited the ASEAN-US Special Summit in 2016. However, the meeting was held in Sunnyland, California, not at the White House. This is a form of appreciation and also an honor for Indonesia," Dzuhayatin remarked.
In addition, the US also sees Indonesia as a middle power country that is consistent in pursuing a free and active foreign policy, especially when it comes to ASEAN relations with big countries, especially the US and China.
In terms of multilateral relations, Dzuhayatin said that Indonesia, as the holder of the G20 Presidency, is considered to have an opportunity to play a strategic role in ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Indonesia is also considered to be able to encourage conflict resolution through negotiations since the country has good relations with Russia and Ukraine, she added.
"Indonesia is ready to become a part of the Russia-Ukraine negotiation," she said.
Read: Jokowi, ASEAN Leaders to Meet Joe Biden at the White House
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