White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters this afternoon that President Obama will make several stops in the Pacific in mid-to-late March.
Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will stop in Indonesia and Australia. He will stop and visit with U.S. service members in Guam while en route, Gibbs said.
Gibbs noted that Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country and said the president will announce a comprehensive partnership between the two nations during the trip. Obama considered stopping there during his November nearly two-week visit through Asia, but the White House opted to wait in part due to last summer’s attacks in Jakarta.
Obama lived in Indonesia for several years as a child and he has hinted that he would stop there since taking office.
In Australia, the president will mark the 70-year anniversary of U.S.-Australia relations. He also will talk about Afghanistan and nuclear nonproliferation.
