EU, Indonesia Discuss Partnership and Counterterrorism

Federica Mogherini, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, made a two-day official visit to Jakarta on April 8-9 in a bid to intensify the partnership between the EU, Indonesia and ASEAN. "Indonesia is a key partner in a key region," she said during a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi at the foreign ministry.

Mogherini and Retno cochaired the first EU-Indonesia Strategic Dialogue. They discussed the cooperation on counterterrorism and antiradicalization. The EU High Representative noted that Indonesia has a larger Muslim population than all the Arab countries put together, emphasizing the significance of the country in combating misrepresentations of Islam.