Indonesian leader Joko Widodo’s US visit falls short – could China stand to benefit?

A US-Indonesia partnership signed during Widodo’s visit shows the lack of potential for bilateral economic ties to improve

China’s strong trade links with Indonesia could deepen and leave little room for US businesses to make headway, analysts say

5-MIN READ5-MIN

US President Joe Biden speaks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on Monday. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:00pm, 18 Nov 2023

On paper, a pact between Indonesia and the United States signed earlier this week by US President Joe Biden and Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo looked and sounded impressive.

But a closer examination of the “comprehensive strategic partnership” signed in the White House revealed a lack of details and certainty to many of the programmes outlined, said observers.

Even though Biden had said the meeting with Widodo marked a “new era” for the two countries, analysts were sceptical that US-Indonesia relations had been fundamentally improved.

The main achievement for Widodo, they said, was his direct message – albeit one with limited impact – to Biden about the Israel-Gaza war.

“Indonesia appeals to the US to do more to stop the atrocities in Gaza. A ceasefire is a must for the sake of humanity,” he was quoted as saying at the Oval Office, for which he earned plaudits back home.

While the two leaders exhibited a camaraderie rarely seen between Indonesian and American politicians, experts say there is still a long way to go before the two countries can realise closer economic ties.