Indonesian President Prabowo speaks to Trump, seeks meeting

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – The leader of Indonesia has held a phone call and asked for a meeting with US president-elect Donald Trump, who will take office in January.

President Prabowo Subianto, who is currently on an official visit to US at the invitation of his outgoing counterpart Joe Biden, posted on X a video of himself having a phone conversation with Trump on Monday, without specifying when the call took place.

Trump and his running mate JD Vance won the US presidential election held earlier this month, beating his opponent Vice President Kamala Harris.

“I would like to congratulate you … Wherever you are, I am willing to fly to congratulate you personally,” Prabowo is heard telling Trump, whose voice is audible on the other end of the call.

Trump lauded Prabowo for doing “a great, great job” in Indonesia, also praising his fluency in English.

“All my training is American, sir,” Prabowo, a former military general, responded.

Recalling the July assassination attempt on Trump, Prabowo said: “We were all shocked when they tried to assassinate you. But we are very happy that the Almighty protected you.”

“I got very lucky,” Trump replied. “We had a great election in the US."

Without specifying when, Prabowo told Trump that he hosted his son-in-law and former advisor Jared Kushner and said he I hopes “to keep in touch with him.”

“I would also like to visit Indonesia sometime … Give my regards to the people of Indonesia. I have great respect for them and you,” Trump added.

“You have my number, you call me anytime you want,” he told Prabowo, who was inaugurated on Oct. 20 as president of the Southeast Asian nation.

“Glad to be connected directly with President Elect Donald Trump to extend my heartfelt congratulations on his election as the 47th President of the United States,” Prabowo said in the post with a video of his phone call with Trump.

“I am looking forward to enhance the collaboration between our two great nations and to more productive discussions in the future,” Prabowo said.

Prabowo has been on a multi-national tour since last Friday with his first stop in Beijing, where he signed multiple agreements amounting to $10 billion, lauding China as “great civilization.”

He will meet Biden at the White House before flying to Peru to attend Asia Pacific Cooperation forum.

Later, he will fly to Brazil for G-20 summit and then to the UK for an official visit.

He is also expected to visit some nations in Middle East.