Jakarta Demands Explanations as Indonesian Military Chief Denied Entry to US

The Indonesian military commander has been invited to the US by Joseph F. Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Jakarta has called on Washington to provide explanations why an Indonesian military chief had been denied entry to the US.

Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, the commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, was barred from traveling the United States despite having an invitation to visit the country from Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr.

According to CNN, Nurmantyo and his wife were expected to leave Jakarta for Washington on Saturday, however, shortly before takeoff the US Customs and Border Protection informed the Indonesian delegation that they were not permitted to enter the United States.

However, US Ambassador to Jakarta later apologized on behalf of Washington to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi for the incident and inconvenience to Gen. Gatot.

"We remain committed to our Strategic Partnership with Indonesia as a way to deliver security and prosperity to both our nations and peoples," the embassy said on Sunday.

Earlier in October, the US embassy to Jakarta published a statement saying that Dunford had invited Nurmantyo to attend a Chiefs of Defense Conference on Countering Violent Extremism slated for October 23-24 in Washington.