Jakarta. United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will check out Indonesia next week as part of his Asian trips that also includes India, Sri Lanka and Maldives, the US Embassy in Jakarta said on Thursday.
” The Secretary will travel to Jakarta to deliver public remarks and meet his Indonesian counterparts to verify the 2 nations’ vision of a totally free and open Indo-Pacific,” the embassy stated in a declaration.
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said individually Pompeo will go to a dialogue hosted by the Ansor Youth Movement, the youth wing of Indonesia’s biggest Muslim company Nahdlatul Ulama.
” In addition to a conference with me, Secretary Pompeo will participate in a forum hosted by the Ansor Youth Motion,” Retno stated.
Pompeo is expected to talk in the discussion on religious affairs and civilization, she included.
She repeated that the United States is a crucial partner of Indonesia and the exchange of top-level check outs by authorities from both nations continues even during the pandemic.
” Assistant Secretary of State [Marie Royce] has actually checked out Indonesia. Indonesian Defense Minister [Prabowo Subianto] has gone to the United States. In addition, a delegation of the United States International Advancement Finance Corporation also will show up here later on this week, prior to the see by Secretary Pompeo,” Retno said.
Indonesia intends to develop more powerful and equally useful relations with the US, she said.
” I believe my conversation with Secretary Pompeo will run efficiently and strengthen our bilateral relationship with the US,” Retno said.
New Ambassador
The news came a day after newly-appointed United States Ambassador Sung Kim presented his letter of credential to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the State Palace.
The South Korean-born ambassador arrived in Jakarta on Oct. 4 but he initially had to finish a 14- day quarantine under brand-new requirements embraced throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
” The United States and Indonesia have a strong relationship, and I anticipate a future of a lot more progress. I hope to work to the benefit of the Indonesian and American peoples, and to be familiar with this stunning nation,” Kim said.
He was chosen for the Indonesian mission last year and confirmed by the complete Senate on August 6, 2020.
He most recently worked as US Ambassador to the Philippines from November 2016 until October2020 From 2011 to 2014, he was the US Ambassador to South Korea, according to the embassy.
Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper will remain in India to attend the 3rd annual US-India 2 2 Ministerial Discussion.
Pompeo will continue his trip to Colombo to highlight the United States dedication to “a partnership with a strong, sovereign Sri Lanka and to advance our typical objectives for a free and open Indo-Pacific area”, the embassy stated.
Afterwards, Secretary Pompeo will take a trip to Malé to talk about collaboration on problems ranging from local maritime security to the battle versus terrorism.
