Deputy Secretary Verma’s Engagements in Indonesia

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma met with Indonesian counterparts on February 1-2 in Jakarta, Indonesia, to further bilateral cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) announced by President Biden and President Widodo in November 2023 at the White House.  In a meeting with Indonesian Vice Foreign Minister Pahala Mansury, the two officials celebrated 75 years of bilateral relations and the conclusion of negotiations on a CSP Plan of Action to guide bilateral engagements over the next five years.  The Deputy Secretary and Vice Foreign Minister also discussed economic cooperation and regional and global issues, including the situation in the Middle East and importance of global health security.  Deputy Secretary Verma highlighted the U.S. commitment to ASEAN and ASEAN centrality.

Separately, the Deputy Secretary and Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan discussed critical minerals cooperation and implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership, a landmark, long-term partnership that will mobilize over $20 billion in public and private financing to accelerate Indonesia’s clean-energy transition.   Deputy Secretary Verma and Deputy Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Dr. Edi Prio Pambudi discussed cooperation to build secure and resilient semiconductor supply chains, supporting Indonesia’s interest in joining the OECD, and shared initiatives under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).  Deputy Secretary Verma thanked Indonesia for supporting our 2023 APEC host year.

In addition to bilateral meetings with senior Indonesian officials, the Deputy Secretary and Permanent Representatives discussed the U.S.-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and how to support the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, including through the U.S. role as the region’s number one source of foreign direct investment.  The Deputy Secretary reaffirmed ASEAN centrality by emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea and thanked ASEAN members for continuing to press Burma’s military regime to implement the Five Point Consensus.

While in Jakarta, Deputy Secretary Verma also led a public dialogue on the Indo-Pacific Strategy and expanded U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with ASEAN and Indonesia at @america to an audience of Indonesian policy makers and youth.