Why Indonesia’s Widodo thinks he can deal with Donald Trump
US president’s Muslim bashing and protectionist tendencies have not put off the Indonesian leader – who has been buoyed by discussions with Vice-President Mike Pence
On paper, Indonesia seems doubly disadvantaged by the new dispensation in Washington DC. It is the sort of emerging Asian economy that Donald Trump’s base believes is stealing jobs from Americans. And it is home to the world’s largest population of Muslims, who the same constituency distrusts as a threat to peace and security.
The president of Indonesia, though, is sanguine about the prospects for working with the United States. Joko Widodo revealed that he had a phone call of seven to eight minutes with Trump after the November election. He described the conversation as damai, Indonesian for peaceful.
On trade, Widodo believes he and Trump share a similar results-driven approach, which will enable them to resolve differences.
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Both are former businessmen, he noted. Widodo ran a successful furniture business in his home town of Solo before venturing into politics. “This is about deal-making,” he said. “Deal, move on.”
The Trump administration this month identified Indonesia as one of 16 countries “under review” for having a trade imbalance and practising anti-competitive policies.
Widodo said he was preparing a team to discuss a bilateral trade deal. The officials will meet their US counterparts in a month’s time. The trade negotiations could amount to a comprehensive trade pact, a free-trade agreement or a preferential trade agreement.
