Indonesian President Widodo met with his American counterpart, Joe Biden, in Washington. MOU on sustainable energies and mineral development announced.
Joko Widodo, President of the world’s fourth most populous country, Indonesia, arrived in Washington on Monday to meet U.S. President Joe Biden. Topics of discussion included, among other things, a possible partnership on critical minerals, especially on the battery metal nickel, of which Indonesia accounts for a large portion of the world’s production. In a fact sheet published late Monday, the White House announced the results of the high-stakes meeting.
The United States and Indonesia elevated their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Under this new level of partnership, the two countries will cooperate in the defense fields, including cybersecurity and space ventures, and on climate targets, where they agreed to support the advancement of the electrical grid and improve air quality in Southeast Asia. In addition, the White House announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Department of State and Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources on sustainable energy and mineral development. The MOU aims to increase the adoption of renewable energy resources, advance sustainable mining and minerals processing technologies, and support Indonesia’s efforts to make its critical mineral sector more sustainable under the overlying plan to align the creation of battery, semiconductor, and nickel supply chains with environmental targets. Following the meeting, President Biden said, “This will mark a new era of relations between the United States and Indonesia across the board, affecting everything.”
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