The bilateral meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, on Monday local time was Jokowi’s first with US President Joe Biden since last year, when they met in Bali on the sidelines of the Group of 20 Summit.

The two leaders announced that their partnership would be elevated from a strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP). A CSP, such as Indonesia’s partnership with China that was established a decade ago, usually entails cooperation at the highest level of government on a vast range of issues.  

The new level of cooperation comes with 22 programs, ranging from economic cooperation supporting Indonesia’s emerging enterprises, climate and energy sectors, to defense cooperation and people-to-people collaboration. At least three new agreements were being planned under the CSP, revolving around sustainable energy and minerals, cybersecurity and cultural exchange.

“This will mark a new era in the relationships between the United States and Indonesia across the board, affecting everything,” Biden said in his opening remarks. “I’m of the view that our partnership is stronger than it’s ever been.”

Among other things, the CSP would see the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) provide US$131 million in financing for several Indonesian private banks, a decarbonization investment worth up to $15 billion by ExxonMobil and the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) intent to funnel some $7.5 million toward Indonesia’s waste management system.

The two countries, which celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties next year, intend to “remain deep friends”, their leaders said in a joint statement, despite looming tensions in recent years sparked by political differences.

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