US Defense Minister Lloyd J Austin Will Fly To Indonesia

Photo via @SecDef

JAKARTA - United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III will visit Jakarta to map the direction of the partnership between the two countries in the defense sector.

Defense Minister Austin will travel to Jakarta and meet senior leaders of the Indonesian government and military as the US and Indonesia work to map the direction of an ambitious road in the defense partnership, the Department of Defense said in a press statement issued by the US Embassy in Jakarta on Thursday, November 17.

According to the US Department of Defense statement, Secretary Austin's visit would encourage the advancement of a major bilateral initiative to support interoperability, capability development, as well as the professionalization and modernization of the Indonesian National Army (TNI).

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III will begin his journey on Friday (18/11), first to Canada, then continue to Indonesia and Cambodia, quoted from Antara.

In Nova Scotia, Canada, Defense Minister Austin will deliver a keynote address at the 2022 Halifax International Security Forum (Halifax International Security Forum) by raising key issues about the US Department's efforts to build a more resilient security architecture with US allies and partners across Indo-Pacific and Europe.

Defense Minister Austin will also meet with Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand to discuss close defense ties between the US and Canada as well as the importance of strategic investment in defense capabilities.

Finally, in Cambodia, Defense Minister Austin will participate in the 9th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Plus with ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and eight dialogue partners.

Defense Minister Austin will participate directly for the first time on the ADMM Plus forum, which was previously carried out virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Austin's participation in the 9th ADMM Plus continues the tradition of the presence of the US Secretary of Defense at the ADMM Plus meeting.

On the sidelines of ADMM Plus, Defense Minister Austin will hold informal multilateral activities with colleagues from ASEAN and meet Cambodian officials and various US partner countries.

The participation of the US Defense Minister this time will underscore the important steps taken by the United States and its allies and partners to bring more stability, transparency and openness in the Indo-Pacific region, the US Defense Department said in a statement.