The President of the United States, Joe Biden, and his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, agreed this Monday in Washington to strengthen cooperation between the two countries to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Both leaders have expressed their views on the war in Gaza between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas); While Biden reiterated his support for Israel and its “right to self-defense,” Widodo conveyed the call for a ceasefire made during a joint summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League. Regarding Ukraine, the two presidents called on Russia to “completely” withdraw all its troops from Ukrainian territory, stressing that peace must be established on the basis of the United Nations Charter and that Ukraine’s integrity, sovereignty and independence must be respected said a statement from the White House. Regarding the situation in the South China Sea, both leaders stressed their “unwavering support” for freedom of navigation and flight, as well as respect for the sovereignty and sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal states over their territories, exclusive economic zones and continental shelves in accordance with the international law of the sea.” Both the United States and Indonesia have expressed support for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula to achieve lasting peace, calling on Pyongyang and Seoul to “fulfill its international obligations and commitments.” in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. In addition, Biden praised the efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), chaired by Indonesia, for its attempts to “resolve the crisis in Burma,” and called for an end to the military junta’s “terrible violence,” unhindered humanitarian access, and release of the unjustly imprisoned and the establishment of a path to democracy. Finally, they agreed to “further expand” cooperation in the areas of “good governance, pluralism, respect for human rights, the rule of law, sovereignty, sustainable development and territorial integrity.”
