The U.S.-Indonesian Relationship at 70: Prospects for Realizing its Great Promise

The United States and Indonesia are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic ties in 2019, providing an important milestone to assess the current status of a relationship that has experienced significant change over time. Today, the relationship faces a series of challenges and opportunities across the political, economic and security domains. Politically, leaders in both countries are facing domestic political contestation which can make cooperation between the two counties difficult. Economically, the relationship punches below its weight due in part to rising nationalism in both countries and fears in Jakarta that the Trump administration might impose unilateral sanctions on Indonesia in retaliation for its large trade surplus with the United States. Security ties have expanded in recent years, but the Trump Administration’s designation of China as a peer competitor that must be contained is not welcome in Jakarta because rising Sino-American tensions create pressure to choose sides, something Indonesia does not want to do. In his talk and subsequent question and answer period, Ambassador Black will discuss these issues and offer some suggestions to keep the relationship on track.

This event is sponsored by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University and the New York Southeast Asia Network.