By Sean Quirk and John Bradford
The US should use Jokowi’s signature foreign policy initiative to take ties to a new level.
Indonesia: home to over 250 million people and the world’s third-largest democracy. At the geopolitical nexus of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and with territory protruding into the South China Sea, this titan demands U.S. attention more than ever. President Joko Widodo’s October 25-28 state visit presents a prime opportunity to renew emphasis on the U.S.-Indonesia partnership. In particular, Widodo’s initiative to transform Indonesia into a “Global Maritime Fulcrum” (Poros Maritim Dunia) provides an ideal avenue for Washington to elevate the U.S.-Indonesia “comprehensive partnership” to a “comprehensive strategic partnership.” This terminology, as recently proposed by a leading American expert on contemporary Indonesia, would mirror the “comprehensive strategic partnership” between Indonesia and China, as well as indicate the strategic gravity of U.S.-Indonesia relations.
Widodo, a leader of humble origins who prefers his popular moniker “Jokowi,” is widely understood to travel abroad with one mission at the forefront of his mind: Bring home deals that boost his domestic initiatives to strengthen the Indonesian economy and reinvigorate the pride of the Indonesian people. International Indonesia watchers do not regard him as a global statesman so much as a proven manager, elected after achieving national hero status for his successes as mayor of Jakarta and, before that, his hometown of Solo. This trip, his first to the United States as president, includes a stop in San Francisco, where he will discuss trade and investment opportunities with U.S. tech giants. However, when he is in Washington, eyes will be on the anticipated agreements delivered in the security sphere, with the emphasis expected on maritime security and counterterrorism.
The American team should recognize when cutting these deals that the most viable terms will reinforce a broader security agenda while also aligning closely with Jokowi’s domestic priorities. Fortuitously, Indonesia’s “Global Maritime Fulcrum” provides a menu of issues offering such opportunities. This initiative aims to strengthen Indonesia’s maritime infrastructure and security apparatus to better propel Indonesia’s economic and political rise. Symbiotically, the United States needs a strong maritime partner in Southeast Asia, particularly near the South China Sea. The opportunity of the Global Maritime Fulcrum comes none too soon for the United States, which should cement a comprehensive strategic relationship with Indonesia before a crisis in the surrounding area necessitates hasty action.
Read the full story at The Diplomat