WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden will meet with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping in person for the first time in a year later this week after leaders from the US and Indonesia conducted talks on Monday.
Biden meets with Indonesia president: As the two leaders get ready for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, where Washington aims to ease tensions with Beijing, Biden welcomed Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the White House. Wednesday is Biden and Xi’s scheduled meeting.
According to the White House, Indonesia and the United States have decided to expand their defence cooperation in areas like cyberspace, cybersecurity, joint exercises, and nuclear threats.
They reached a consensus on climate change by working to maintain the electrical grid and enhance air quality. Reuters, citing three people with direct knowledge of the talks, said on Sunday that the two nations are attempting to develop a possible minerals cooperation centred on the nickel metal used in EV batteries.
However, the Biden administration is still looking into how such a contract might be implemented because it is concerned about Indonesia’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria.
According to a US official, the two parties will provide a proposal that will get their nations ready for talks on the matter.
Biden will make the announcement of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on sustainable energy and mineral development, according to a statement from the White House on Monday.
Indonesia appeals to us regarding Gaza
The president, Jokowi, put pressure on Biden to take action to put a stop to Israel’s conflict with Hamas.
“The US is urged to take further action to halt the crimes in Gaza by Indonesia.” At the beginning of their meeting with the US president in the Oval Office, Widodo declared, “Ceasefire is a must for the sake of humanity.”
With a population of 270 million, Indonesia is largest country with a majority of Muslims.
Biden’s backing of Israel has angered a lot of Muslims since, according to Israeli sources, Hamas massacred around 1,200 people and kidnapped over 200 others on October 7.
According to Palestinian sources, over 11,000 Gaza citizens have died as a result of Israeli strikes.
An unspecified US official stated, “The president will look to ask Indonesia to a play a larger role and to assist us,” in reference to Indonesia’s involvement in the Middle East.
Like several other countries in Southeast Asia, Indonesia maintains economic ties with China while addressing territorial disputes with its larger neighbor. It strives to navigate its way through the tensions between Washington and Beijing, aiming to avoid becoming focal point in their antagonistic relationship.
As part of the leaders’ meeting, Jakarta and Washington formally raised their diplomatic ties to the highest level.
One of the sources indicated that two presidents had scheduled a discussion regarding Indonesia’s diplomatic attempts to resolve the situation in Myanmar, where the military had overthrown the government in coup in 2021 and has been in conflict with rebel groups.
The individual stated, “It will soon be time for us to consider what our joint next steps are to address an untenable situation.”
The constitution mandates that Jokowi, first elected in 2014, must step down from office the following year after serving a maximum of two terms.
