Jakarta. An American diplomat recently said that the US was ready to implement the cooperation under the recently announced “comprehensive strategic partnership” with whoever wins the Indonesian presidential election.
A few months ago, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his American counterpart Joe Biden announced a major upgrade to Indonesia-US ties. The two countries now share a comprehensive strategic partnership, which is the highest possible status of cooperation.
In about two weeks, Indonesians will vote on whether it will be Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto, or Ganjar Pranowo who will lead Indonesia for the next five years. This leads to the question if the change in presidency will cause the US to adjust the elevated ties.
According to Richard R Verma, the US deputy secretary of state for management and resources, the election results should have little to no impact on the partnership as it is something that transcends one leader.
On the [US-Indonesia] comprehensive strategic partnership, that really transcends any one person, leader, or official,” Verma told reporters in Jakarta on Thursday evening.
“We are looking forward to the elections. We will implement this [comprehensive strategic partnership] with the new government, whoever that is,” Verma said.
