A huge security operation is in operation in Indonesia ahead of the arrival later today of President Bush.
Mr Bush is expected to spend just over six hours in the world's most populous Muslim nation after flying in from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam during the last stopover of an Asian tour.
He will meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a palace in the town of Bogor, 50 kilometres south of the capital Jakarta.
Indonesian policemen stand during a protest against US President George W. Bush's visit
Aside from the Middle East, the leaders will discuss topics ranging from education and poverty to fighting bird flu and anti-terrorism co-operation.
Thousands of protesters have gathered ahead of the visit. In the centre, most streets had been cleared, and hundreds of police with riot gear stood at the ready, along with small groups of armed soldiers.
Security issues have had a high profile ahead of the visit partly because Indonesia has experienced several suicide bomb attacks against Western-linked targets. Washington has praised Jakarta's efforts to crack down on militants.
Indonesia is a key regional ally in the US-led "war on terror" and looks to the United States for trade and investment. But many US policies, especially in the Middle East, are unpopular in the country of 220 million, 85 per cent of them Muslims.
Many Indonesians are angry over US military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, which they consider attacks on Muslim nations.
Despite agreement on other issues, the Indonesian government has consistently condemned US actions in those countries, as well as Washington's perceived pro-Israel bias.