Indonesian president starts US visit with call to Trump ahead of Biden meeting
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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s office said he made a call to President-elect Donald Trump on Nov 11 after arriving in Washington.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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JAKARTA – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto congratulated US President-elect Donald Trump on his election victory in a phone call, after landing in Washington on an official visit that includes a meeting with President Joe Biden on Nov 12.
Mr Prabowo, who has said he will pursue a non-aligned foreign policy, posted a video of his call to Trump made after he arrived from China, where he had met President Xi Jinping
“Wherever you are, I’m willing to fly to congratulate you personally, sir,” Mr Prabowo said in the video of the call posted on his social media accounts.
Trump replied: “We’ll do that, any time you want.”
Mr Prabowo’s office said he made the call on Nov 11 after arriving in Washington. It did not immediately respond when asked if he is scheduled to meet Trump in person.
Trump has described his election victory as amazing and giving him a big mandate.
“We had tremendous success. The most successful in over 100 years, they say,” he said.
Trump also said the Indonesian President was “very respected” and praised his English, to which Mr Prabowo, a former special forces commander, replied: “All my training is American, sir.”
Mr Prabowo expressed his shock over the assassination attempt on Trump
“Yes, I got very lucky. I just happened to be in the right place with the right direction. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be talking to you right now,” Trump said.
Mr Prabowo also met several US company representatives in Washington, his office said, including from mining giant Freeport-McMoRan and energy company Chevron, and urged the companies to invest in Indonesia. REUTERS
