US backs stronger investment and technology cooperation with Indonesia

The United States will continue to strengthen cooperation with Indonesia in the fields of new technology, critical minerals, business climate development to boost foreign investment, and security, according to US Chargé d’Affaires in Indonesia Peter Haymond. Speaking at a press conference for ‘Independence Day 2026: 250 Years of American Independence’ in Jakarta on Thursday evening, Haymond said the US will support Indonesia’s efforts to create a conducive business climate to expand trade and investment. He noted that security cooperation now extends beyond traditional issues such as border protection and maritime law enforcement to include new challenges arising from technological advances. Haymond assessed that artificial intelligence (AI) offers significant benefits but can also be misused for criminal activities such as fraud and online gambling. ‘So, we need to work together with Indonesia and other partners to combat these new security challenges, such as online gambling and online fraud,’ he said. The US also aims to strengthen educational partnerships with Indonesia to enable more Indonesian students to study in America. He said this cooperation can be expanded through scholarship programmes, educational exchanges, and the use of digital technology and online learning. ‘We can also share teaching materials because both our countries care about the younger generation as the future of our nations,’ he added. Haymond said his travels across various regions of Indonesia over the past year have reinforced his belief that the Indonesia-US relationship is one of the most important partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region. ‘I am confident the US-Indonesia partnership will continue to grow stronger and reach new heights in the years ahead,’ he said at the event, which was also attended by Indonesian government officials, diplomats, and representatives of friendly nations.