Prabowo And Japanese Defense Minister Discuss Cadget And Indo-Pacific Exchange

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto walked together with Japanese Defense Minister Minuru Kihara/ANTARA/HO-Japan Defense Ministry.

JAKARTA - Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Japanese Defense Minister Minuru Kihara discussed several issues when the two met in Tokyo, Japan, including related to defense cooperation, one of which was to continue the exchange of cadets and issues concerning the Indo-Pacific.

Prabowo when meeting with Defense Minister Kihara at the Japanese Ministry of Defense Office in Tokyo, Wednesday, April 3, is optimistic that two countries' defense cooperation can continue to increase in view of the success of the programs that have been running before.

I used to meet the Japanese Defense Minister and asked for a delivery of cadets from Indonesia, starting with two people. After that, I asked for another addition until now to four people," Prabowo told the Kihara at the meeting.

"Currently I am going to Japan, hoping that there will be an increase in the number of Indonesian cadets in the future," Prabowo continued.

The two ministers, as broadcast in the official upload of the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, also exchanged ideas on issues in the region, including those related to the Indo-Pacific. Defense Minister Kihara believes that the Indo-Pacific must remain a free and open area.

Japan's Ministry of Defense in its official broadcast shortly after the meeting ended said Defense Minister Kihara also expressed his attitude against all decisions and unilateral changes that could increase tensions in the South China Sea.

Kihara believes that Japan and Indonesia as maritime countries can jointly ensure that legal rules are enforced in maintaining the Indo-Pacific as a free and open area.

In the same meeting, Prabowo and Kihara also reiterated the cooperation between the two countries which has reached a comprehensive strategic partnership stage. Both believe that the current cooperation needs to be further improved in the future.

Defense Minister Kihara also took advantage of the meeting to congratulate Prabowo, who by the General Elections Commission (KPU) RI was appointed as the elected presidential candidate on March 20, 2024.