Indonesian President Undertakes Middle East Tour to Support Gaza Efforts
President Joko Widodo's regional visit includes meetings in the UAE, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan.
The Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, departed Jakarta on a regional tour aimed at reinforcing Indonesia’s role in supporting initiatives to address the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
Accompanied by a limited ministerial delegation, President Widodo’s visit will encompass Turkey and four Arab nations.
In a press conference before his departure, he outlined his itinerary, starting with a visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he is scheduled to meet Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi to discuss international political and economic issues.
Following the UAE, President Widodo will travel to Ankara for an official visit with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has invited him to participate in a political forum in Antalya.
The discussions will focus on geopolitical and geo-economic matters, as well as cooperation between Indonesia and Turkey in sectors such as industry, trade, education, and culture, reflecting the strong bilateral relations between the two nations.
On Saturday, the Indonesian leader is set to visit Cairo to engage in talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
This leg of the trip will lead to a visit to Doha, where discussions with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will aim at finalizing various agreements, including several strategic partnerships.
The tour will culminate in a visit to Jordan for consultations with King Abdullah II.
President Widodo highlighted that these visits respond to numerous calls for Indonesia to play a more active and effective role in supporting efforts to resolve the conflict in Gaza and broader issues in the Middle East.
He noted that despite Indonesia's geographical distance from the region, as the world's largest Muslim-majority country and a leading member in the Non-Aligned Movement, it adheres to an independent and proactive foreign policy that makes it a respected participant in such discussions.
Declaring Indonesia's readiness to assist, Widodo expressed the nation's commitment to providing further humanitarian aid to Gaza, similar to past efforts where Indonesia dispatched supplies and medical teams to the region under perilous conditions.
He stated that Indonesia is also prepared to accept victims, including injured individuals and orphans from Palestine.
The Indonesian Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, is expected to engage with Palestinian officials and relevant parties regarding the logistics of evacuating those in need, with plans for Indonesia to send aircraft to facilitate their transport.
The initial group is projected to entail approximately 1,000 individuals, subject to agreement from Palestinian authorities and their willingness to travel to Indonesia, where their stay would be temporary until circumstances in Gaza improve.
In his statements, Widodo underscored the necessity of consultations with regional leaders, citing that Indonesia has received numerous communications from various personalities expressing a willingness for Indonesia to contribute towards resolving the Gaza situation.
He described the situation as complex, acknowledging the challenges, yet reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to supporting the safety and independence of the Palestinian people.
Accompanied by a limited ministerial delegation, President Widodo’s visit will encompass Turkey and four Arab nations.
In a press conference before his departure, he outlined his itinerary, starting with a visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he is scheduled to meet Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi to discuss international political and economic issues.
Following the UAE, President Widodo will travel to Ankara for an official visit with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has invited him to participate in a political forum in Antalya.
The discussions will focus on geopolitical and geo-economic matters, as well as cooperation between Indonesia and Turkey in sectors such as industry, trade, education, and culture, reflecting the strong bilateral relations between the two nations.
On Saturday, the Indonesian leader is set to visit Cairo to engage in talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
This leg of the trip will lead to a visit to Doha, where discussions with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will aim at finalizing various agreements, including several strategic partnerships.
The tour will culminate in a visit to Jordan for consultations with King Abdullah II.
President Widodo highlighted that these visits respond to numerous calls for Indonesia to play a more active and effective role in supporting efforts to resolve the conflict in Gaza and broader issues in the Middle East.
He noted that despite Indonesia's geographical distance from the region, as the world's largest Muslim-majority country and a leading member in the Non-Aligned Movement, it adheres to an independent and proactive foreign policy that makes it a respected participant in such discussions.
Declaring Indonesia's readiness to assist, Widodo expressed the nation's commitment to providing further humanitarian aid to Gaza, similar to past efforts where Indonesia dispatched supplies and medical teams to the region under perilous conditions.
He stated that Indonesia is also prepared to accept victims, including injured individuals and orphans from Palestine.
The Indonesian Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, is expected to engage with Palestinian officials and relevant parties regarding the logistics of evacuating those in need, with plans for Indonesia to send aircraft to facilitate their transport.
The initial group is projected to entail approximately 1,000 individuals, subject to agreement from Palestinian authorities and their willingness to travel to Indonesia, where their stay would be temporary until circumstances in Gaza improve.
In his statements, Widodo underscored the necessity of consultations with regional leaders, citing that Indonesia has received numerous communications from various personalities expressing a willingness for Indonesia to contribute towards resolving the Gaza situation.
He described the situation as complex, acknowledging the challenges, yet reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to supporting the safety and independence of the Palestinian people.
