U.S. and Indonesia upgrade ties with eye on critical minerals pact (original) (raw)

Indo-Pacific

Biden and Widodo seal 'comprehensive strategic partnership' but Congress wary of FTA

20231114 widodo biden

U.S. President Joe Biden hosts Indonesian President Joko Widodo for talks at the White House in Washington on Nov. 13. © Reuters

November 13, 2023 19:00 JST

Updated on November 14, 2023 13:34 JST

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Joe Biden and his Indonesian counterpart, Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, met at the White House on Monday, agreeing to elevate ties and cooperate in fields ranging from climate and energy to digital connectivity and defense.

A White House fact sheet said the two leaders upgraded the relationship to a "comprehensive strategic partnership," describing it as an "unprecedented level of cooperation, built on shared values of democracy and pluralism." This is similar to a move the U.S. made with Vietnam in September.