Jakarta. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently congratulated Prabowo Subianto after the General Election Commission, or KPU, declared the defense minister to be Indonesia’s new president.

KPU announced on Wednesday night that Prabowo had secured about 96.2 million votes and a victory across 36 out of 38 provinces, enough for him to win the presidential race in just one round. Not long after the announcement, Blinken immediately issued a congratulatory message to Prabowo.

“We look forward to partnering closely with president-elect Prabowo Subianto and his administration when they take office in October,” Blinken said.

The American diplomat talked of how the two countries are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties “grounded in democracy and pluralism”. He also mentioned Indonesia’s recently elevated status as the US’s comprehensive strategic partner. 

“As close partners and friends under our comprehensive strategic partnership, we are working hand-in-hand to deliver a better future for our citizens,” Blinken said.

Blinken’s message followed US President Joe Biden’s congratulatory letter earlier this month. While Biden congratulated Prabowo for leading the preliminary vote count, the American leader said he looked forward to the announcement of the official results. Biden commented on Prabowo’s time as defense minister.

“For 75 years, Indonesia and the US have grown closer-bound by our shared values and democratic, pluralistic vision for the world. Together, we have safeguarded international stability, including for the Indo-Pacific that is free, open, prosperous, and secure,” Biden wrote in the letter.

“Your partnership as Indonesia’s Minister of Defense has been critical in these efforts,” Biden said.

This marks Prabowo’s third attempt to become president after losing to the outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo twice. But this time, Prabowo has Jokowi’s son Gibran Rakabuming Raka as his running mate. Prabowo has also promised the continuation of Jokowi’s existing policies. 

Under the Jokowi administration, US-Indonesia agreed on a comprehensive strategic partnership -- the highest possible status of cooperation.

Jokowi's style of foreign diplomacy puts emphasis on trade and investment. As a case in point, Jokowi tried to get the US to revive its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) during his bilateral talks with Biden last November. The GSP eliminates duties on goods imported from Indonesia. However, this program has expired since Dec. 31, 2020. Jokowi even told Biden that GSP’s revival could help the US to rely less on Chinese imports.

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