Indonesia And Germany Agree To Strengthen Defense Cooperation

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto handed a souvenir in the form of a keris to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius/ANTARA/Gilang Galiartha

JAKARTA - Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia and Germany agreed to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries.

The Minister of Defense conveyed this after receiving an official visit from the German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his delegation at the Ministry of Defense office, Jakarta, Monday, June 5.

"Indonesia-German bilateral relations, including in the defense sector, have been very good and have been going on for decades. We want to continue to strengthen this relationship, it will be the main discussion of the meeting," Prabowo said when delivering a press statement with Defense Minister Pistorius after the meeting.

Defense Minister Prabowo emphasized that he and his colleagues, Defense Minister Pistorius, will continue to take proactive steps to realize the increase in Indonesia-German defense cooperation.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Pistorius stated that he and Defense Minister Prabowo had intensive discussions on a number of issues, including several things that had been discussed when the two took part in the International Institute forum for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue 2023 in Singapore at the end of last week.

"For example, about the issue of the Indo-Pacific region from the point of view of Germany and Europe," said Defense Minister Pistorius.

Both parties, continued Defense Minister Pistorius, also discussed the bilateral position of Germany in the ASEAN and Indo-Pacific areas.

"Especially with Indonesia, which has been our good partner for decades," he said.

Defense Minister Prabowo also said that he planned to fulfill the invitation to make an official reply visit from Defense Minister Pistorius.

"I also promised to make an official reply visit, Your Majesty has invited me for that, we are both looking forward to the return visit later," said Prabowo.

One form of Indonesia-German defense cooperation in the field of education, currently as many as 670 personnel from the Ministry of Defense and the TNI, both civilian and military, have carried out education in Germany in 2022-2023.

There are five personnel currently carrying out education including Cyber Security Seminar, Officer Training Information Visit, Basic Course Lofar Sonar Submarine Detection, Senior Executive Seminar (SES) and Staff and Command College.

Apart from education, there is a cooperation forum that has been formed with Germany, namely the Indonesia-German Defense Dialogue (GSPST Indonesia Germany Security and Policy Staff Talks) which is held alternately every year.

Minister of Defense Pistorius arrived at the Indonesian Ministry of Defense at around 14.30 WIB and was greeted directly by Defense Minister Prabowo before the two held a closed high meeting.

After the meeting, Defense Minister Prabowo handed over a souvenir in the form of a keris to Defense Minister Pistorius.