Secretary Pompeo Travels to Indonesia To Underscore Shared Vision of a Free and Open Indo-pacific

“The strategic partnership the United States and Indonesia have forged remains more important than ever…we will continue to strengthen the bonds that our two countries enjoy based on our shared democratic values, our deep economic ties, and our commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”  — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, August 14, 2020

Oct 31, Washington, Office of the Spokesperson: Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will travel to Jakarta, Indonesia, from October 28-29, 2020, where he will meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.  The Secretary will also deliver remarks and meet with representatives of U.S. businesses to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties.

STRENGTHENING THE U.S.-INDONESIA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

* The United States and Indonesia share a deep and enduring Strategic Partnership based on our fundamental belief in democracy and free markets. As the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia is well-positioned – both regionally and globally – to serve as an example for others of religious tolerance, plurality, and inclusion.

Since the Secretary’s last visit in August 2018, we have further deepened our bilateral ties.

* Strengthening our Strategic Partnership with Indonesia is a U.S. foreign policy priority, given Indonesia’s status as the world’s third-largest democracy and its historic leadership role in ASEAN. The United States believes respect for human rights is critical for democratic governance, and that democracies such as Indonesia are stronger when they uphold the spirit and the letter of their domestic and international obligations for all their citizens.

* The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged both our nations. The United States helped Indonesians by providing $11 million of COVID-related assistance and donating 1,000 ventilators. We look forward to furthering cooperation in fighting the pandemic and strengthening our economies post-COVID.

THE UNITED STATES AND INDONESIA SHARE A VISION OF A FREE AND OPEN INDO-PACIFIC REGION

* The United States and Indonesia share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, including a commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight. Indonesia is a leader within ASEAN and an anchor of the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. The United States remains deeply engaged in the Indo-Pacific, and we and our partners believe the best way to prevent conflict is to reinforce our shared values.

* Security cooperation is a key pillar of our strategic partnership. The United States is proud to be Indonesia’s largest defence partner in terms of the number of annual exercises and events in which we participate together. Our cooperation in counterterrorism and in countering violent extremism is also an important component of our joint efforts to build a safer world. We respect Indonesia’s strong efforts to safeguard its maritime rights and stand up to PRC aggression in the South China Sea, including in its Exclusive Economic Zone around the Natuna Islands.

GROWING BILATERAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT TIES WILL HELP OUR ECONOMIES THRIVE

* The United States remains deeply committed to Indonesia’s prosperity. We are invested in upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific in which all nations, including Indonesia, are able to pursue economic growth consistent with international law and principles of fair competition. Our bilateral trade and investment relationship present myriad opportunities to create more jobs and economic growth for all of our citizens.

* We are deploying new and innovative tools to bolster the engagement of U.S. businesses in Indonesia for the benefit of both countries. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation is catalyzing U.S. private sector investment in Indonesia’s growing infrastructure, digital, and energy sectors, and the recent signing of a bilateral Infrastructure Finance agreement will attract private sector capital to meet Indonesia’s estimated $1.5 trillion infrastructure gap.

* U.S. companies are major investors in Indonesia’s economy, contributing to sustainable growth across diverse sectors. In October 2020, Kimberly-Clark executed its $1.2 billion acquisition of Softex Indonesia with a strategy to fuel the company’s growth through brand building and innovation. Earlier this year, Pennsylvania-based Air Products announced a $2 billion investment to create a world-class production facility in Kalimantan for methanol, a chemical feedstock.

SHARED COMMITMENT TO INCREASE OUR PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES

* We recently celebrated 70 years of our bilateral relationship and continue to expand our people-to-people ties. Since 1952, more than 3,000 Indonesians and 1,200 Americans have received Fulbright scholarships for exchange study and teaching.

* Almost 40,000 Indonesians are members of the Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative (YSEALI), the largest number from any ASEAN country. Each year, U.S. Embassy Jakarta sends as many as 200 emerging Indonesian leaders to the United States to participate in more than a dozen youth exchange programs, and approximately 9,000 Indonesians undertake study in the United States. The United States continues to work with Indonesia to increase the number of exchange students in both of our countries.

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