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On November 14, Nikkei Asia reported that the US and Indonesia have upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking a historic new phase in the bilateral cooperation. The decision was made during talks between US President Joe Biden and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo at the White House.
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| US President Joe Biden (right) and Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the meeting |
Under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the United States and Indonesia will strengthen economic cooperation for shared prosperity through investment in critical and emerging technologies; sustainable micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. Specifically, the two sides will cooperate to diversify the global semiconductor ecosystem; enhance digital connectivity in rural Indonesia; invest in emerging Indonesian businesses; launch a tourism partnership; and leverage U.S. private investment.
In the climate area, the United States and Indonesia announced many new programs, including cooperation on sustainable energy and minerals; supporting small-scale renewable energy grids; promoting clean energy transition plans; implementing carbon capture and storage projects; enhancing power connectivity and improving air quality in Southeast Asia; exploring clean energy alternatives for industrial growth; expanding cooperation on waste management. The two countries agreed to expand cooperation on cybersecurity; strengthen maritime security; promote defense cooperation with the signing of a new defense cooperation agreement and enhance counterterrorism cooperation. In addition, there are new programs to promote people-to-people exchanges, exchanges of experts in education, culture, health, etc.
After the talks, a joint statement said the two sides agreed to “develop a critical minerals action plan,” another effort by the Biden administration to expand mineral trade with Southeast Asian nations to reduce their dependence on China.
In recent years, the US-Indonesia partnership has grown significantly. US President Joe Biden attended the G20 Summit in Bali last year and US Vice President Kamala Harris attended the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta this past September. Indonesia has the capacity to store 8 gigatons of carbon (1 gigaton = 1 billion tons) in its reservoirs, and could add another 400 gigatons if it taps its saline aquifers.
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