Pompeo to visit Indonesia for bilateral talks, dialogue with Islamic youth group
United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is scheduled to visit Indonesia next week, with an itinerary that includes a bilateral meeting and attending an event held by an Islamic youth group, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has said.
"We have continued to discuss the preparations, including during my meeting [on Wednesday] with the new US ambassador to Indonesia, Sung Yong Kim," Retno told journalists on Thursday.
In addition to attending bilateral meetings, Pompeo is set to attend a dialogue on religion and civilization organized by GP Ansor, the youth wing of Indonesia's largest Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), she added.
"The commitment to increase our partnership with the US is reflected through the intensive visits from officials of both countries even amid the pandemic," she said. Pompeo's expected trip to Jakarta comes following Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto's visit to Washington, DC, for a meeting with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper last week.
In September, US Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy James H. Anderson also visited Indonesia and met with Retno and Prabowo.
"The delegations from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will also visit Indonesia this week," Retno said.
The US and Indonesia have agreed to further tighten defense and maritime security cooperation between the two countries following a meeting between Prabowo and Esper, during which they discussed regional security, bilateral defense priorities and defense acquisitions, the US Department of Defense reported in a statement issued on Oct. 16.
Retno expressed hope that Pompeo's visit would strengthen the bilateral ties between Indonesia and the US. "The US is one of Indonesia's important partners. We hope to continuously build a strong and beneficial partnership with the US," she said.