Indonesia Maintains Independence Amidst Cooperation with the US
Indonesia’s Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) stated that trade and investment relations between Indonesia and the United States remain in line with the principle of an independent and active foreign policy, as well as protecting the independence of national policy.
Deputy Minister of Investment and Downstreaming/Deputy Head of BKPM, Todotua Pasaribu, revealed that the government continues to open communication channels with various countries, including the US, with the aim of strengthening economic cooperation and investment.
“We still adhere to that principle of cooperation (independent and active), trade and so on, it is all independent and active. That each of us, for example, with the US and its institutions, it is necessary to open communication and cooperation,” said Todotua, Tuesday (February 24, 2026).
According to him, openness in establishing communication with international partners will not reduce the government’s independence in determining national policy.
Todotua emphasized that Indonesia’s independence remains the main priority in every form of global cooperation. “But our government’s independence remains. There’s no issue. Our President is a clear person. President Prabowo is a clear person,” he said.
The government, he continued, ensures that there is no intervention from outside parties in the formulation of national economic policy, even though communication and trade and investment cooperation continue to be improved.
“The matter of our independence is our independence. There is no interference. The fact that we have to open communication in order to trade and invest, that is a must,” said Todotua.
Increased international communication, according to him, also aims to improve the investment climate and strengthen economic cooperation strategies, so that Indonesia can be more competitive at the global level.
Regarding the policy of relaxing the Domestic Content Level (TKDN) for a number of US-based companies, Todotua said that this step is part of the government’s strategy and will not have a significant impact on domestic investment.
“It’s just part of the strategy. Some of the requirements have been relaxed,” he said.
He explained that the policy still considers the balance of trade between Indonesia and partner countries, so that the impact on investment flows is considered not too large.
“But there are also calculations, the trade we take from them. It doesn’t have too much influence,” said Todotua.
The government also has high confidence in the prospects for national investment. “We have an extraordinary level of confidence in this investment,” he said.