WASHINGTON: Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto met with US President Joe Biden on the White Home on Tuesday (Nov 12) and provided his congratulations to president-elect Donald Trump by telephone throughout an official go to to Washington.
“I’ll work very arduous to strengthen Indonesian-United States relationship, and I wish to work in direction of this finish that we now have a powerful cooperation,” mentioned Prabowo.
Prabowo, who has mentioned he’ll pursue a non-aligned international coverage, met with Biden within the Oval Workplace after posting a video of his name to Trump.
He arrived in Washington straight from China, the place he had met with President Xi Jinping on his first abroad journey since taking workplace final month.
Washington sees Indonesia, probably the most populous nation in Southeast Asia, as an necessary companion in a area the place its rival Beijing has deep commerce and funding ties. Indonesia can be the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.
Whereas China is a key financial companion for Indonesia, Jakarta has additionally develop into a giant purchaser of US arms, and it needs to promote the West extra metals from its mines.
On the White Home, Biden mentioned the 2 leaders had been discussing local weather, battle within the Center East and the South China Sea.
Indonesia mentioned on Monday it doesn’t recognise China’s claims over the overwhelming majority of the South China Sea, despite signing a maritime development deal with Beijing.
“We proceed to encourage Indonesia to work with their authorized consultants to verify any settlement they make with (the Individuals’s Republic of China) is in accordance with worldwide regulation, particularly the UN Conference on the Regulation of the Sea,” mentioned White Home spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre at a press briefing.
TRUMP CALL
Prabowo’s workplace mentioned he made the call to Trump on Monday after arriving in Washington. It didn’t instantly reply when requested if he’s scheduled to fulfill Trump in individual.
“Wherever you might be, I am prepared to fly to congratulate you personally, sir,” Prabowo mentioned within the video of the decision posted on his social media accounts.
“We’ll do this, anytime you need,” Trump replied.
Trump described his personal election victory as wonderful, and mentioned it gave him a giant mandate.
He additionally mentioned the Indonesian president was “very revered”, and praised his English, to which Prabowo, a former particular forces commander, replied: “All my coaching is American, sir.”
Prabowo additionally met with a number of US firm representatives in Washington, his workplace mentioned, together with from Freeport McMoRan and vitality firm Chevron, and urged the businesses to put money into Indonesia.
