Prabowo and US Defense Minister Meet to Harmonize Defense Cooperation

The Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto, met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the Pentagon Building, Virginia, US/VIA BETWEEN

JAKARTA - Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto held a meeting with the United States Minister of Defense, Lloyd J Austin III, at the Pentagon in Virginia, USA, Thursday, September 20, local time.

During the meeting, the two defense ministers discussed the alignment of future cooperation between the US and Indonesia, in which both countries want a free and open Indo-Pacific.

"Aligned with the strategic goal of advancing a more connected, prosperous, secure, resilient and free and open Indo-Pacific, I believe that achieving this goal will require the cooperation and participation of Indo-Pacific countries", said Prabowo in a press release received in Jakarta, Antara, Friday, October 21.

Prabowo expressed his appreciation for the US's intention to support an independent and strong ASEAN and thanked him for holding this meeting.

"We hope that the defense cooperation between the two countries will be stronger and the friendship between the two countries will continue and grow in the spirit of mutual respect and trust for each other's national interests", he said.

In this heated discussion between the two ministers, Austin appreciated Indonesia's leadership in ASEAN, the Indo-Pacific, and the world. Prabowo and Austin stressed the importance of sustainable cooperation amid increasingly complex regional security dynamics.

Therefore, the US stated that it would continue to assist the modernization of the Indonesian military and strengthen interoperability between the US and Indonesia.

Austin also expressed support for Prabowo for the professionalization of the Indonesian military where Indonesia for the past two years has sent cadets to study on scholarships at three US military academies.

Namely, at The US Military Academy (USMA) West Point, the US Naval Academy (USNA) Annapolis, and the US Air Force Academy (USAFA) Colorado.

In addition, the two ministers also discussed significant progress in US-Indonesia defense cooperation, including the expansion of the "Super" Garuda Shield this summer, the largest exercise ever conducted between the two countries.