Indonesia vows to 'defend interests of Global South' at Africa forum

BALI, Indonesia -- Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and leaders from African nations gathered on Bali to discuss issues ranging from trade, to supply chains, to health care, as the Southeast Asian nation moves to deepen ties with the Global South and play a bigger role in the international community.

"Indonesia is committed to being part of the global solution, defending the interests of the Global South," Jokowi said Monday at the three-day Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF), which began on Sunday. Citing geopolitical tensions and disrupted global supply chains, he warned, "International solidarity is actually declining, the spirit of multilateralism is increasingly being sidelined and fragmentation is widening."