Considered Strengthening Cooperation Between 2 Countries, Defense Minister Prabowo Receives Military Award From Singapore

JAKARTA - Defense Minister (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto received the military award Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) from the Singapore Government at the Singapore Presidential Palace, Tuesday, November 21.

Defense Minister Prabowo is considered to have contributed to strengthening defense cooperation between the two countries.

Singaporean President Tharman Sanmugaratnam handed over the award directly to Prabowo during the ceremony procession at the Singapore Presidential Palace.

"I think this is a sign that our relationship with Singapore continues to improve. Defense cooperation continues to improve. Singapore is one of the countries close to us. Our relationship has been a long time, economic, political, legal, defense, security relations continue to be good. I think this is something that shows that we will continue to work closely and productively," said Defense Minister Prabowo after receiving the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) award in Singapore, Tuesday, November 21, which was confiscated by Antara.

In the award ceremony, preceded by the procession of honor, the Singapore Presidential Palace said that Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) was an acknowledgment of Prabowo's contribution which was considered extraordinary. The important achievement of defense cooperation between the two countries, namely Indonesia and Singapore, succeeded in agreeing on a defense cooperation agreement (DCA) in March 2023. The agreement was signed by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Singapore's Minister of Defense Ng Eng Hen, witnessed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Singaporean Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong.

"The agreement is an important milestone in the bilateral defense relationship (RI-Singapore)," said Singapore's Presidential Palace protocol during the award ceremony.

He continued that Prabowo was also able to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries in recent years, even though at that time the world was facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Then, the Singapore Presidential Palace also appointed close cooperation between the TNI and the Singapore Armed Forces, which also could not be separated from Prabowo's influence as Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia.

"The TNI and the Singapore Armed Forces carry out main exercises such as the Safkar Indipura Exercise (Together), the Joint Exercise (Together) Minex Pandu, Manyar Indipura, Camar Indipura, and Super Garuda Shield," the Singapore Presidential Palace said.