Indonesia has rejected an apology from the US after its military chief was denied entry at the weekend.

General Gatot Nurmantyo and his entourage were scheduled to travel from Jakarta to Washington on Saturday afternoon but were informed by airline staff just before boarding that US customs and border protection had blocked their entry.

The general had been invited by General Joseph Dunford, chair of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, to attend a conference on countering violent extremism.

Seeking clarification over the embarrassing incident, Indonesia’s foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, summoned the deputy US ambassador to Indonesia, Erin Elizabeth McKee, to explain on Monday morning. The US ambassador, Joseph Donovan, is currently out of the country.

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Indonesia must be more assertive