CHANCERIESTHE DIPLOMATIC ATLAS

Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia

Diplomatic history and full roster

Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia

2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

The Walsh–McLean House and its modern P Street wing are joined by a curved glazed passage beside the oval conservatory. During renovation, embassy offices temporarily moved to 1120 20th Street NW on 2 June 2026; mail remains addressed here.

FactValueBasis and sources
Constructed1903documented; Historic mansion: construction range. HABS records the 1901 excavation permit and occupation in 1903. The commercial assessor’s AYB 1900 and EYB 1987 do not replace this chronology. The modern wing dates to 1982.
  1. tile.loc.gov
Acquired by Indonesia19 December 1951documented; Deed date; separate from first chancery use. Recorded 2 January 1952. Historical purchase price: $335,000. Current assessment is listed separately.
  1. tile.loc.gov
NeighborhoodDupont Circledocumented; Historic neighborhood; assessment geography differs. DC tax records label the assessment neighborhood Central.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
  2. tile.loc.gov
ArchitectHenry Andersendocumented; Mansion architect. The modern wing was designed by The Architects Collaborative.
  1. seasia.co
  2. tile.loc.gov
RoomsMore than 50 (historic)documented; Historic mansion count; no current campus-wide room inventory. The present total for both buildings remains unverified.
  1. tile.loc.gov
Floor area48,800 sq ftverified; DC commercial CAMA LIVING_GBA, building 1, section 1; square feet; no per-wing allocation published.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
Site area26,000 sq ftverified; Parcel total: 0095/0045. DC ITSPE LANDAREA, recorded square feet. Roads and unrelated neighboring parcels excluded.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
2026 Value$29.4Mverified; Parcel total: 0095/0045. Active 2026 DC ITSPE ASSESSMENT; land plus improvements. Not proposed value, tax owed, sale price or leasehold value.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov

Complete property record

Indonesian Ambassador’s Residence

2700 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Wisma Indonesia occupies the former L. L. Moses Estate in Forest Hills. The DC heritage guide dates the house to 1924 and Indonesian acquisition to 1950. Its wooded grounds host diplomatic receptions and community celebrations.

FactValueBasis and sources
Constructed1924documented; DC Historic Preservation Office, Ward 3 Heritage Guide, p.45. The address repository records a 21 February 1924 building permit. Residential CAMA AYB is 1925; EYB 2008 is an appraisal improvement-age field, not original construction.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
  2. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
  3. planning.dc.gov
Acquired by Indonesia1950documented; Ward 3 Heritage Guide, p.53, acquisition for diplomatic use. No exact deed or move-in day was established. This precedes the 1951 mansion purchase.
  1. planning.dc.gov
NeighborhoodForest Hillsdocumented; DC assessment neighborhood.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
ArchitectNot Verifiedunverified; No architect established in the reviewed official heritage and assessment records.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
  2. planning.dc.gov
Rooms20verified; Current DC residential CAMA ROOMS for the identified dwelling; this assessor count is distinct from bedrooms, bathrooms or the number of modeled room studies.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
Floor area17,200 sq ftverified; DC residential CAMA GBA, square feet; single residential building record.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
Site area339,700 sq ftverified; Parcel total: 2232/0818. DC ITSPE LANDAREA, recorded square feet. Roads and unrelated neighboring parcels excluded.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
2026 Value$19.9Mverified; Parcel total: 2232/0818. Active 2026 DC ITSPE ASSESSMENT; land plus improvements. Not proposed value, tax owed, sale price or leasehold value.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
Diplomatic use1950verified; The State Department Diplomatic List for October 1950, p. 85, lists Ambassador Ali Sastroamidjojo and his family at 2700 Tilden Street. This documents actual diplomatic residential use in the acquisition year and does not infer occupancy solely from ownership.
  1. archive.org
  2. planning.dc.gov

Complete property record

Historic Moments

Washington recognises Indonesian independence

28 December 1949

The United States recognises Indonesian independence and opens diplomatic relations. H. Merle Cochran presents his credentials as the first American ambassador.

Sukarno meets Eisenhower

1956

President Sukarno’s visit to the United States brought him together with President Dwight D. Eisenhower. A United States Information Service photograph preserves their handshake.

A covert operation becomes a diplomatic crisis

18 May 1958

Indonesian forces capture American pilot Allen Pope near Ambon. His imprisonment exposes the risks of US support for rebels opposing Jakarta.

East Timor tests the relationship

September 1999

Violence follows East Timor’s vote to leave Indonesia. Washington suspends military sales and presses Jakarta to accept an international force.

Relief reaches Aceh

2005-01

After the Indian Ocean tsunami, U.S. military crews joined the international relief effort. Near Banda Aceh, supplies were unloaded from helicopters during Operation Unified Assistance.

A Comprehensive Partnership

2010-11-09

In Jakarta, Presidents Barack Obama and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono launched a Comprehensive Partnership covering political, economic, educational, and other ties. That evening, they raised their glasses at the state dinner.

Chiefs of Mission

DiplomatOfficeRecorded serviceStatus
Dwisuryo Indroyono SoesiloAmbassador2025–presentCurrent
Nidya KartikasariChargé d’affaires2025 (documented service)Former
Ida Bagus Made BimantaraChargé d’affaires2023–2025 (documented service)Former
Rosan Perkasa RoeslaniAmbassador2021–2023Former
Iwan Freddy Hari SusantoChargé d’affaires2021 (documented service)Former
Muhammad LutfiAmbassador2020Former
Iwan Freddy Hari SusantoChargé d’affaires2020 (documented service)Former
Mahendra SiregarAmbassador2019Former
Budi BowoleksonoAmbassador2014–2019Former
Dino Patti DjalalAmbassador2010–2013Former
Sudjadnan ParnohadiningratAmbassador2006–2010Former
Soemadi BrotodiningratAmbassador2002–2005Former
Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-JaktiAmbassador1998–2001Former
Arifin SiregarAmbassador1993–1997Former
Abdul Rachman RamlyAmbassador1988–1993Former
Soesilo SoedarmanAmbassador1986–1988Former
A. Hasnan HabibAmbassador1982–1985Former
Ashari DanudirdjoAmbassador1978–1982Former
Roesmin NurjadinAmbassador1974–1977Former
Abdul HabirChargé d’affaires1974 (documented service)Former
Syarief ThayebAmbassador1971–1974Former
Abdul MoeisChargé d’affaires1971 (documented service)Former
SoedjatmokoAmbassador1968–1971Former
Suwito KusumowidagdoAmbassador1967–1968Former
Lambertus Nicodemus PalarAmbassador1965–1966Former
Zairin ZainAmbassador1961–1965Former
Moekarto NotowigdoAmbassador1953–1960Former
Zairin ZainChargé d’affaires1953 (documented service)Former
Ali SastroamidjojoAmbassador1950–1953Former
Sumitro DjojohadikusumoChargé d’affaires1950 (documented service)Former