Defense Minister Prabowo Meets With Philippine President Bongbong Marcos

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto shook hands with Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. at the Malacanang Palace, Manila, Friday (20/9/2024). ANTARA/HO-Biro Public Relations Secretariat General of the Indonesian Ministry of Defense.

Prabowo Subianto continued his series of Southeast Asian trips to the Philippines to meet with Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romuadez Marcos Jr at Malacanang Palace, Manila.

Head of the Public Relations Bureau of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defense Brigadier General TNI Edwin Adrian Sumantha explained that the visit to the Philippines was part of the Defense Minister's commitment to strengthen defense cooperation in Southeast Asia, as well as to build a more strategic partnership between Indonesia and the Philippines.

At the Malacanang Palace, Defense Minister Prabowo said the Philippines is Indonesia's strategic partner, especially in the defense sector.

The Indonesian Defense Minister also praised President Bongbong Marcos Jr's leadership for being able to position the Philippines as one of the countries the world has taken into account in the region.

"I am very impressed by your leadership. Your strategic insight has significantly advanced the position of the Philippines on the global stage, showing tangible progress in the fields of politics, economy and the military," Prabowo said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, September 20.

Defense Minister Prabowo also expressed his appreciation to the Philippines for its success in hosting the 13th Defense and Security Cooperation Committee (JDSCC) meeting in Manila in June 2024.

"We are committed to continuing to participate in this annual bilateral forum and hope to host the 14th JDSCC meeting in Indonesia by 2025," said Defense Minister Prabowo.

Meanwhile, the President of the Philippines, at the meeting, stated that Indonesia and the Philippines have a deep bond of friendship. "I believe this friendship will be stronger in the years to come," said the President of the Philippines.

Defense Minister Prabowo since the first week of this month toured Southeast Asian countries to meet with state leaders and affirmed his commitment to continue cooperation and improve partnerships with these countries.

Prabowo started his Southeast Asian tour in the first week of September to Brunei Darussalam, then continued to Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. In the series of trips, Prabowo also had time to stop by Thailand, but there he attended an informal meeting with Thailand's Prime Minister (PM) Paetongtarn Shinawatra and his father, who is also Thai PM for the 2001-2006 period Thaksin Shinawatra.