Tea and nickel on the agenda as Biden hosts Indonesian president

President Biden’s meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo aims to discuss various important topics, including trade, clean energy cooperation, and regional stability. They will explore opportunities to enhance cooperation on the clean energy transition, advance economic prosperity, bolster regional peace and stability, and reinforce people-to-people ties.

The discussion about critical minerals like nickel is significant because Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of nickel, a key component in electric vehicle batteries. Exploring ways to expand the trade of these minerals can have economic and environmental implications, especially in the context of clean energy initiatives.

Indonesia’s status as the world’s third-largest democracy makes it a key player in Southeast Asia. Strengthening relationships with Indonesia is part of the U.S.’s broader strategy to enhance its presence in the region and deter the influence of other global powers, particularly China.

Events in the Middle East, particularly Indonesia’s recent involvement in a summit of Muslim leaders and their stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, may intrude on the meeting’s agenda. President Biden may seek to involve President Widodo in playing a larger role in addressing Middle East issues, although the specifics of this role are yet to be defined.