JAKARTA, Indonesia — A top Indonesian Cabinet minister said that the Trump administration’s hostile rhetoric toward Islam has left many in the world’s most populous Muslim nation feeling that a wedge has been driven between the U.S. and Indonesia. “Many Indonesians were dismayed by the Trump administration’s hostile rhetoric and intemperate policy stance towards the Muslims of the world,” he said. This week, Trump retweeted anti-Muslim videos from a far-right British group in only the latest of statements to inflame sentiment against the U.S. in the Muslim world. Luhut said Indonesia is the biggest country in Southeast Asia and it’s “unimaginable” the U.S. can have sound security ties with the region without reaching out to Indonesia in particular. Co-operation between the U.S. and Indonesia is also crucial in combating violent extremism, he said.

Source: National Post December 02, 2017 01:36 UTC