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 The leaders of the United States and the Republic of Indonesia have released a joint statement titled "Elevating Relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership."

Announcements and Press Releases

The White House

November 13, 2023

It gives President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. great pleasure to greet President Joko Widodo of Indonesia in Washington, D.C.  The two leaders usher in a historic new era of friendship and bilateral collaboration between the two largest democracies in the world. As the two countries prepare to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations and acknowledge their shared values of democracy and pluralism as well as their shared commitment to the rules-based international order, Presidents Biden and Widodo pledge to advance their relationship between the United States and Indonesia to the status of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The U.S.-Indonesia Strategic Partnership was established eight years ago, and throughout that time, the two nations have advanced their mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation.  Presidents Biden and Widodo plan to further deepen their cooperation on all matters of shared concern, such as pluralism, respect for human rights, the rule of law, sovereignty, sustainable development, and territorial integrity, and good governance. This cooperation will take place within the enhanced framework of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.  In order to provide a better future for our citizens and address the new challenges of the twenty-first century, the United States and Indonesia plan to continue being close allies and partners.

Encouraging Sustainable Development, Public Health, Innovation, and Digital Transformation to Promote Inclusive Economic Growth

In order to improve lives and livelihoods for Americans and Indonesians alike, the two leaders reiterate the significance of inclusive, innovation-driven economic growth.  By preparing regulatory measures in an open and transparent manner and working through various channels, including the U.S.-Indonesia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) and other platforms, both parties intend to increase bilateral trade and enhance collaboration on economic policy.

In order to ensure that trade and investment relationships are based on high standards, Presidents Widodo and Biden declare their strong intention to support market-based economic reforms that advance decent work, social justice, freedom of association, and collective bargaining. They also affirm broad, supportive, and constructive bilateral engagement. The leaders anticipate continued cooperation and advancement under the terms of the U.S.-Indonesia Free Trade Agreement (TIFA), which offers a significant chance for collaboration between the two countries on a number of matters, such as trade in services, intellectual property, labor, investment, and industrial and agricultural goods, as well as to promote communication and interaction between pertinent parties.

President Biden states that he is in favor of Indonesia starting the process of joining the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as a full member.  As this process gets underway, the US is eager to collaborate with all OECD members to make sure Indonesia carries out all of the obligations outlined in the OECD accession roadmap, including the implementation of the required labor, employment, trade, and economic reforms.

With the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its center, the leaders promise to keep bolstering a multilateral trading system that is inclusive, fair, open, transparent, and devoid of discrimination.  Furthermore, both parties recognize the significant advancements made thus far and anticipate more under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), which will have a positive impact on the labor and economics of both nations as well as the surrounding area.

Both Presidents Biden and Joko Widodo acknowledge Indonesia's leadership position in the world in the value chains for nickel, cobalt, and other critical minerals, as well as the substantial critical mineral resources in the US and the Biden Administration's dedication to building the entire US critical mineral supply chain.  They highlight the potential for a strong relationship between the US and Indonesia to lead to the mutually beneficial development of indigenous resources in compliance with just market-based regulations, thereby creating high-standard jobs in both countries' clean energy supply chains.

Together, they pledge to lessen supply chain vulnerabilities and dependencies, increase supply chain transparency, and increase access to reliable and sustainable sources of essential minerals.  They reaffirm how crucial it is to have robust labor and environmental laws in order to stop exploitation and advance sustainability in the global mining industry.

They resolve to take decisive action in order to create and execute policies that promote fair wages, occupational safety and health, and compliance with domestic labor laws by employers at mining and processing facilities across all nations.  Together, they pledge to improve Indonesia's investment climate by bringing in high-caliber investments that will boost both nations' economies and energy security and provide Americans and Indonesians with wholesome, safe, and respectable jobs. This cooperation will include providing technical support and resources for capacity building.  They pledge to work toward a mineral supply chain with low greenhouse gas emissions, which will involve promoting clean, low-emission power for mineral processing.

They pledge to create a critical minerals action plan that integrates all of these avenues of work and aims to raise high-quality investment in the critical minerals industries in both nations in order to further this work.  They pledge to continue these efforts in order to lay the groundwork for future talks on a crucial accord on minerals.

The leaders restate their shared commitment to collaborating to create robust and secure semiconductor supply chains that support our respective national interests and comply with national laws.  With support from the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund, launched by the U.S. The two leaders declare their support for the CHIPS Act of 2022, which aims to diversify global supply chains, boost American industry, and improve local value creation by fostering investment in Indonesia's indigenous semiconductor ecosystem.  These efforts aim to support Indonesia as a partner in the development of safe and trustworthy telecommunications networks to ensure a secure and diverse semiconductor supply chain.

The leaders reiterate their dedication to sustainable development, emphasizing the need to address issues of poverty alleviation, gender and income inequality, strengthening health systems, and promoting inclusive economic growth.  A new cooperative partnership agreement for the conservation of forests and wildlife was signed by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Indonesia and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The objectives of this agreement are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect endangered species, prepare for the consequences of climate change, and guarantee sustainable livelihoods for people living in forest communities.  Additionally, to support Indonesia's sustainable economy and fair labor for all, the United States and Indonesia intend to collaborate through regional initiatives like IPEF and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment to mobilize public and private investment in infrastructure.

President Widodo is happy that the United States and Indonesia would continue to work together to establish Nusantara, the new capital of Indonesia.  In order to boost American exports of high-caliber, environmentally friendly infrastructure and creative smart-city solutions, the U.S. Trade and creation Agency (USTDA) plans to finance a trade mission to the country that will be centered on the creation of the new capital city.  USTDA also aims to pay training for Indonesian officials on value-based procurement for developing, reviewing, and awarding tenders for the new capital city.  The Nusantara New Capital Authority is receiving continuous technical assistance from USAID to produce the first smart building guidelines in Indonesia, and this study expands on that assistance.  To increase trade and investment in Indonesian smart city development, the U.S. Department of Commerce intends to host a Smart City Business Development Mission.

The two presidents acknowledge significant bilateral initiatives to improve health sector cooperation through expanded investment in human capital development, sharing of best practices, and increased research and technical collaboration.  The leaders anticipate promoting increased cooperation among various health sectors, notably through a scheduled five-year extension of the bilateral agreement between the U.S. The Ministry of Health in Indonesia and the Department of Health and Human Services.  The leaders aim to enhance collaboration in pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response, with a focus on vaccine delivery and research and development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. This builds on the two nations' long-standing partnership in fighting infectious disease.  The two leaders restate their common goal of eliminating infectious diseases, specifically HIV/AIDS, polio, Zika, tuberculosis, and dengue, in addition to enhancing the prevention and management of noncommunicable illnesses like cancer, heart disease, and stroke.  The two countries reaffirm their shared goal of eradicating the occurrence of cervical cancer. The United States supports and applauds Indonesia's Declaration on Cervical Cancer Elimination through the National Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan (2023 to 2030).

Driving the Transition to Clean Energy

The leaders reiterate that their nations would take immediate measures to keep the rise in temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels, acknowledging that the climate problem constitutes an existential threat.  In addition to striving to guarantee that their residents have access to affordable, transparent, and sustainable clean energy, they decide to increase cooperation on the production of clean and renewable energy in order to expedite the clean energy transition.

Indonesia and the US will keep working closely together, including with other partners, on the $20 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) in order to achieve the country's goals of reducing emissions and accelerating the deployment of renewable energy sources within the timeframe specified in the Comprehensive Investment and Policy Plan (CIPP).  President Biden commends Indonesia for its audacious climate pledges made under the JETP, which include specific targets for the power sector's emissions and a robust deployment of renewable energy.  President Widodo applauds US support to the JETP and anticipates more initiatives to provide public and private funding for Indonesia's transition to sustainable energy.  Future initiatives in the fields of energy transition, green growth, climate change response, and renewable energy infrastructure that are sponsored by foreign financial institutions are warmly welcomed in Indonesia.  Along with strengthening their collaboration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation, waste, and mining sectors, the United States and Indonesia plan to pursue an ambitious program of cooperation on wind, solar, civil nuclear, and geothermal energy.  The two nations also recognize the importance of the Net Zero World Initiative in assisting Indonesia in transforming its energy sector, particularly through collaboration on supply chains for low-carbon batteries.

To further advance technical cooperation on enabling environments and regulatory frameworks to help increase the uptake of renewable energy resources, improve grid resiliency and security, and advance technologies for responsible mining and minerals processing practices, the United States and Indonesia have also announced a memorandum of understanding on sustainable energy and mineral development. This agreement supports the goals of the Japan Energy Partnership Program (JETP).  The United States will collaborate with Indonesian policymakers to address workforce needs, including strategic investments, workforce training, and equitable just transition policies, to ensure that workers benefit from the developing clean energy industry. This is because the clean energy transition is expected to have a significant impact on workers and communities throughout Indonesia.  Indonesia is cordially invited by President Biden to join the Greening Government Initiative (GGI) as a means of collaborating on these matters.

Both nations welcome the bilateral public-private partnership aimed at carrying out feasibility studies for the implementation of small modular reactor (SMR) technology in support of the sustainable energy transition.  The Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of SMR Technology (FIRST) program is providing additional funding for this endeavor, which falls within the purview of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.

Collaborations like the U.S.-Indonesia Bilateral Climate Working Group on forests, nature, and climate; the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry-U.S. demonstrate the leaders' strong commitment to tackling the causes and effects of climate change. Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation between the Environmental Protection Agency and IPEF.  In order to assist emissions reductions and the sustainable bioeconomy, the United States and Indonesia will also start a conversation on scaling climate finance and investments in the forest and land use sectors.

Strengthening Interpersonal Relationships, Cultural Exchanges, and Tourism

The leaders emphasize how they want to strengthen cultural exchanges and interpersonal relationships while strengthening collaboration in research, development, and education.  In order to accomplish this, both parties plan to increase the number of Fulbright recipients between Indonesia and the US, resume regular interfaith discussions through the Indonesia-US Council on Religion and Pluralism, and bring the number of Peace Corps volunteers in Indonesia back to pre-pandemic levels.  The leaders also pledge to expand professional, educational, and cultural exchanges through various initiatives such as the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study program (KL-YES), the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA), Beasiswa Seni Budaya Indonesia, and Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan.  The U.S.-Indonesia tourist Partnership, which enhances travel and tourist prospects between the two nations, is jointly announced by the leaders.  President Biden commends President Widodo for his backing of Georgetown University's founding in Jakarta, which will train the next wave of American policy experts on Indonesia and Southeast Asia while assisting Indonesia in developing its human resources and research capabilities.  

With a particular emphasis on women and young people, the leaders welcome additional collaboration to advance STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) sectors and entrepreneurial partnership.  The leaders recognize the increasing cooperation between their nations in the fields of cultural heritage protection and preservation, particularly the memorandum of understanding between Indonesia's Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology and the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art in the United States.  The leaders take note of the following: preparations for a discussion series on best practices in historic preservation and museum management; U.S. support for the preservation of Indonesian local languages; and plans for a YSEALI initiative on sustainable and inclusive tourism development.  President Widodo acknowledges American efforts to assist the modernization and restoration of Indonesia's historic National Museum as well as other museums and sites of cultural heritage as part of this relationship.

Promoting Stability and Peace in the Indo-Pacific Region and Beyond

President Biden offers support for Indonesia's leadership in the Indo-Pacific and congratulates President Widodo on Indonesia's successful year as ASEAN chair.  President Widodo applauds the United States' dedication to ASEAN, which is demonstrated by the 2022 ASEAN-U.S. Strategic Partnership and the November 2022 upgrade of the U.S.-ASEAN partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Particular Conference in Washington, D.C.  The leaders applaud Lao PDR's 2024 election to lead ASEAN.

President Biden declares his backing for ASEAN's attempts to end the hostilities in Myanmar.  The leaders are still pleading with the regime to put an end to the horrifying bloodshed, permit unrestricted access for humanitarian aid, free all those wrongfully imprisoned, and restore Myanmar's path to inclusive democracy.  They reiterate their unwavering support for the Five-Point Consensus of ASEAN and for the people of Myanmar, including the displaced.

President Widodo recognizes the importance of regional and sub-regional structures in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions cooperating with ASEAN on particular areas of shared interest and welcomes U.S. support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The leaders are anticipating a successful finish to the United States' 2023 APEC host year, and President Widodo also welcomes the U.S. role as this year's APEC forum host.

In line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and international maritime law, both leaders reaffirm their unwavering support for freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea as well as respect for coastal states' sovereign rights and jurisdiction over their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves.  Along with reiterating their support for ASEAN's efforts to conclude an effective and substantive code of conduct in the South China Sea that is compliant with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS, and respects the rights and interests of third parties, the United States and Indonesia also acknowledge the significance of the 2002 Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea being fully and effectively implemented.  The leaders take note of the arbitral tribunal's 2016 decision, which was made in accordance with UNCLOS.  The signing of a bilateral Work Plan on Maritime Security Cooperation by Presidents Biden and Widodo is welcomed as it will strengthen Indonesia's capacity for maritime security and safety as well as its ability to prevent and combat illicit, unreported, and illegal fishing, including that which is linked to labor abuses and transnational organized crime groups.

The two leaders discussed their respective perspectives on the Gaza conflict. Every president expressed the views of his country.  Additionally, President Widodo delivered the joint communiqués of the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit, held on November 11, 2023, in Riyadh.  The leaders concur that a two-state solution is the best way to achieve a lasting peace, and they should collaborate with other regional partners in this regard.

The leaders emphasized the need for a just and lasting peace based on the principles of the United Nations Charter, including the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of Ukraine, as they discussed the war against Ukraine and called on the Russian Federation to completely withdraw from Ukrainian territory.

Reiterating their support for the establishment of a lasting peace and total denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, the United States and Indonesia call on all relevant parties to strictly and completely fulfill their international obligations and commitments, including those outlined in pertinent UN Security Council resolutions.

Strengthening Defense Cooperation Between the United States and Indonesia

Driven by their common democratic values, the US and Indonesia pledge to support international law, bolster peacekeeping capabilities, and improve their respective capacities for defense and mutual security.

The leaders declare their intention to create a new Defense Cooperation Arrangement in order to strengthen the defense cooperation between the two nations.  The two leaders reiterate the significance of enhancing real-world collaboration to handle security issues, particularly by holding frequent meetings of the Indonesia-U.S. The Security Dialogue, the Bilateral Defense Dialogue between the United States and Indonesia, and interactions with non-military parties.

The two Leaders pledge to cooperate in order to prevent and combat terrorism, including its financing, in a way that is compliant with international humanitarian law and human rights legislation. They also oppose terrorism and violent extremism in all of its manifestations.

Building a Sustainable Partnership

As they look to the future, the two leaders emphasize how important it is to keep strengthening ties by holding frequent meetings at all governmental and civil society levels and enhancing the existing conversation processes, such as the Comprehensive Strategic conversation between the U.S. Secretary of State and Foreign Affairs Minister of Indonesia.  In line with bilateral agreements between the United States and Indonesia, international conventions to which both nations are parties, and their respective legal systems, both nations aim to guarantee that the other can adequately staff and manage diplomatic and consular facilities to support this elevated relationship.