Biden-Jokowi Meeting Agrees On US-RI Defense Sector Cooperation, Including Joint Exercises

President Jokowi was greeted by US President Joe Biden when he arrived at the White House, USA, Monday, November 13, 2023 local time. (BPMI Setpres-Laily Rachev)

JAKARTA - Indonesia and the United States (US) have agreed to improve the defense partnership between the two countries through the signing of a new defense cooperation agreement.

The two countries also agreed to cooperate in enforcing international law, building peace capacity, and strengthening security and defense capabilities.

The new collaboration covers a wide range of fields, including defense professionalization, cyberspace, military medicine, space, joint exercises, restoration of prisoners of war/missing on duty, and countering chemical, biological, radiology, and nuclear threats.

This was conveyed in a joint statement released by the White House following the meeting of President Joko Widodo and US President Joe Biden at the White House, Washington, Monday, November 13 local time.

Citing Antara, President Jokowi visited the US in order to attend a high-level meeting of Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation Countries (APEC) in San Francisco, from November 15-17.

The two leaders also reiterated the importance of strengthening practical cooperation to address various security challenges, including through routine meetings of the Indonesian-US Defense Dialogue and Dialogue, involving non-military stakeholders.

"The two leaders also oppose terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms, and are committed to working together to prevent and fight it, in ways in accordance with international human rights laws and international humanitarian law," the White House said in a statement.

Previously, Indonesia and the United States agreed to increase the status of bilateral relations from a strategic partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said this status increase was a strong foundation for strengthening bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and the US, especially in the economic sector.