Amid concerns that United States policy will become more protectionist and transactional when president-elect Donald Trump takes office in January of next year, the US ambassador to Indonesia said on Wednesday that the ties between Washington and Jakarta would continue on the basis of their mutual interests.
Though she noted that she was representing the administration of President Joe Biden, not Trump, Ambassador Kamala S. Lakhdhir said the US and Indonesia had long-standing shared interests and areas of cooperation, such as in economic development, trade, education, public health and renewable energy.
“I’ve seen many transitions in my many years as a career diplomat for the US. One of the things we [ask] is: What are the fundamental interests between Indonesia and the US?” she told a press briefing on Wednesday.
“These fundamental interests between the two countries and peoples [will] sustain us through the political transition here in Indonesia and the United States,” she added.
Countries worldwide, including Indonesia, have begun to prepare for Trump’s inauguration next year, with many expecting dramatic policy changes, higher tariffs and an escalation of the US-China rivalry.
Trump’s pledged economic policies suggested decreased engagement, foreign aid and foreign direct investment for Southeast Asian countries and could cause slower growth and higher unemployment in the region, analysts have said.
Expectations are low that the US will be interested in engaging with Southeast Asia at the regional level through ASEAN, given that no ambassador was sent to the bloc under Trump’s first administration.
Yet some new doors have been opened up by Trump’s victory as well, other analysts pointed out, such as economic opportunities for countries that can fill the gap left by China once the expected US tariffs come into effect.
President Prabowo Subianto appears to be laying the foundation for the US-Indonesia relationship under Trump.