Indonesia Not Affected by Trump`s Plan to Cut Aid: Sri Mulyani

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said that Indonesia`s economy will not be affected by U.S. President Donald Trump`s threat to cut aid to countries backing the United Nations (UN) draft resolution on Jerusalem.

“The grants will affect countries that depend on them, but not Indonesia,” Sri Mulyani told Tempo in Jakarta on Thursday, December 28.

Read: Indonesia Condemns Israel's Capital Naming of Jerusalem by US

The UN draft resolution demands the U.S. withdraw its decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel. Earlier on  December 21, Trump told journalists at the White House: “They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars, and then they vote against us. Well, we're watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We'll save a lot. We don't care.”

Indonesia has firmly backed the resolution and expressed objection to the United States President’s plan to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem as it would undermine the peace process between Israel and Palestine.

Read: Trump Threatens to Cut Aid to UN Members over Jerusalem Vote

Sri said that U.S. funding for Indonesia mostly relates to maintenance of military equipment. “But I believe Indonesia has a diverse source of funding.”

Moreover, Sri Mulyani said that President Donald Trump’s threat will not affect Indonesia’s economy as the financial capacity of regions across Indonesia is strong enough. “So, Indonesia is not dependent whatsoever; we are hopeful that it won’t be affected,” she noted.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO