Indonesian President Prabowo reaches US after China trip

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto early Monday landed in the US, following his state visit to China as part of his first overseas trip since being inaugurated last month.

Prabowo is on a multi-national tour which includes trips to Peru, Brazil, the UK and some stops in the Middle East.

Outgoing US President Joe Biden will host Prabowo at the White House on Tuesday.

It is not clear yet whether Prabowo will meet President-elect Donald Trump, who won the US presidential elections held on Nov. 05.

“Thank you to the Indonesian citizens and students in Washington DC for the wonderful warm welcome,” Prabowo said on X after he landed in the US.

In Peru, Prabowo will attend an Asia Pacific Cooperation forum and later will represent Southeast Asia’s powerhouse at the G20 summit in Brazil.

On his way back, Prabowo is scheduled to visit London to hold talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Before flying out of Jakarta, Prabowo said his trip includes stops in the Middle East but he did not reveal the countries he will visit.

Over the weekend, Prabowo met with China’s President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, National People’s Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji as well as the Chinese business community where he signed deals worth $10 billion.

Emphasizing Indonesia’s relations with a “civilizational power” China, Prabowo said: “We must give an example that in this modern age, collaboration — not confrontation — is the way for peace and prosperity.”

Beijing and Jakarta also signed deals on Blue Economy and the two sides agreed to hold a first-ever joint meeting of their foreign and defense ministers next year.

“Indonesia is very clear," Subianto said. “We have always been non-aligned; we have always been respectful of all great powers in the world.”

Jakarta and Beijing "are committed to strengthening friendship and advancing the welfare of both nations," he added.

Since being elected in the February presidential elections, Prabowo, the former defense minister, had already paid trips to the US, China, and Russia before being inaugurated on Oct. 20.

Ahead of his trip to Washington, Prabowo in a congratulatory message to Trump said: "Indonesia and the United States are strategic partners who share a robust and multifaceted relationship."

"Our strategic partnership holds immense potential for mutual benefit, and I look forward to collaborating closely with you and your administration to further enhance this partnership and for global peace and stability," said the 73-year-old former military general.