T

he visit of United States Vice President Mike Pence to Indonesia is not a mere stop over on his Asia Pacific tour. The fact he chose to spend two nights in Jakarta between visits to Washington’s traditional allies, Tokyo, Seoul and Canberra, testifies to the recognition by US President Donald Trump’s administration of Indonesia’s importance as a strategic partner in the region.

Pence’s arrival in Jakarta late Wednesday came as the city completed a particularly divisive election the head regional post, which, nevertheless, was carried out in a generally peaceful and orderly manner. The capital that greets Pence portrays a democracy at work, which continues to evolve in Indonesia as it does in America.

Pence’s courtesy visit to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, and his talks with Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Thursday, demonstrate the willingness of the US, under Trump, to maintain its engagement with Indonesia as it plays its role globally, including in Asia, amid the rise of China, with which Indonesia has built strong ties.

The fact that Indonesia, the world’s largest predominantly Muslim country, embraces democracy and has contributed much to the global fight against terrorism, places Southeast Asia’s largest country high on the list of the US’ strategic interests. Regardless of who is in power in either nation, Indonesia and the US are bound by a common concern to maintain and improve democracy.

The world today recognizes Indonesia as the third largest democracy after the US, making the two nations significant benchmarks for the global state of democracy. The US, therefore, cannot ignore Indonesia as a torch bearer for democracy in the Muslim world. The inclusion of a visit to Istiqlal Mosque in Pence’s itinerary was thus appropriate. Not only because previous US presidents, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, visited Indonesia’s landmark place of worship, but also because other foreign leaders who visited shared the impression that Islam and democracy peacefully coexist and work together to create a common good.

Whether Trump’s unfriendly policies toward the Islamic world will change after Pence meets with prominent Indonesian Muslim figures, including Istiqlal’s imam Nasaruddin Umar, remains to be seen. However, Pence’s trip is an ideal stepping stone toward Trump’s own visit to Indonesia some day and reinforces the strategic partnership between the two democracies.