U.S. President Joe Biden and Indonesian President Joko Widodo agreed on Monday to elevate the two countries' relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" in their talks in Washington, at a time when China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region has been growing.
Biden said the highest level partnership marks a "new era" in the relationship between his country and Indonesia, a leading member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with close economic ties with China, at the outset of their talks.
The partnership is aimed at enhancing security cooperation, building a resilient supply chain and promoting the transition to clean energy, Biden said.
In response, the Indonesian president, popularly known as Jokowi, said, "For Indonesia, economic cooperation is priority, including on supply chain issues," adding his country also hopes the new partnership contributes to regional and global peace and prosperity.
"So Indonesia appeals to the United States to do more to stop the atrocities in Gaza. A cease-fire is a must for the sake of humanity," Jokowi said.
Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population, has no diplomatic ties with Israel and has long backed the Palestinian cause. It has condemned Israel's bombardment of Gaza following last month's cross-border attack by the militant group Hamas.
Indonesia hosted a series of ASEAN-sponsored summits with partner nations in September, at which time the United States sent Vice President Kamala Harris instead of Biden, raising doubts about Washington's priorities.
But Biden pledged to continue to work with ASEAN to advance a "free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific" at the onset of the talks and congratulated Jokowi's leadership as this year's chair of the regional group.
