For Immediate Release
Press Release
Statements and Releases
The White House
November 13, 2023
Today, President Biden welcomed President Joko Widodo of Indonesia to the White House. Marking a historic new phase in our bilateral relations, the two leaders elevated U.S.-Indonesia ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. President Biden and President Widodo celebrated this unprecedented level of cooperation, built on shared values of democracy and pluralism, by announcing new initiatives to deliver a better future for our citizens and a free, open, prosperous, secure, and resilient Indo-Pacific.
President Biden thanked President Widodo for Indonesia’s leadership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and underscored the U.S. commitment to deepening our cooperation in Southeast Asia and with Indonesia. Since 2002, the United States has provided over $6.2 billion in development, economic, health, and security assistance to Indonesia, which includes more than $2 billion to advance education and health outcomes and over $1.2 billion to promote economic growth. Additionally, President Biden has requested a further $172 million in new programs across a range of sectors, including climate and the clean energy transition, economic growth, and health.
President Joseph Biden: “This will mark a new era… in the relationships between the United States and Indonesia across the board, affecting everything. It includes enhancing security cooperation, particularly maritime security. And it includes expanding our work together to build a secure and resilient supply chain. It includes deepening our collaboration to combat the climate crisis.”
President Joko Widodo: “The U.S. is one of the most important partners for Indonesia. And we agreed to elevate our partnership into Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. But most importantly, we have to give a real meaning to it. For Indonesia, economic cooperation is priority, including on supply chains issues.”