US and Russia Compete Diplomatically in Indonesia... Overlapping Schedules in Jakarta

Meeting with President Jokowi at Different Times by Both Countries' Delegations
Indonesian Foreign Minister: "Both the US and Russia Are Good Partners"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken visited Indonesia as the first country on his Southeast Asia tour, amid intense diplomatic competition in the region, including overlapping schedules with Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of Russia's Security Council, in Jakarta. Secretary Blinken condemned China's unilateral maritime sovereignty claims in the South China Sea and emphasized U.S. support to counter China’s actions.

According to U.S. ABC News on the 13th (local time), Secretary Blinken began his tour of three ASEAN member countries?Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand?starting with Jakarta, Indonesia. Coincidentally, Patrushev also visited Jakarta on the same day for security talks with Indonesia, resulting in overlapping schedules.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated, "Both the United States and Russia are good partners of Indonesia," emphasizing, "Indonesia is strongly committed to contributing to a peaceful, stable, and prosperous world." The Indonesian government reportedly requested both countries to strengthen cooperation and support in the economic and health sectors.

Initially, Secretary Blinken’s ASEAN tour was understood to be aimed at countering China following the G7 foreign and development ministers’ meeting, with a focus on issues such as the South China Sea. However, with the Russian security chief visiting Indonesia at the same time, attention shifted to the U.S.-Russia competitive dynamic.

During his meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Secretary Blinken stated, "We will work to connect the defense industries of the U.S. and Asia and integrate supply chains to protect our allies and partner countries from China’s unjust sovereignty claims and security threats in the South China Sea region and to maintain peace," adding, "Countries in this region also want these unilateral actions by China to change."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.