Prabowo Chats With US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin In Singapore

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto chats with United States Defense Minister (US SecDef) Lloyd James Austin III in Singapore / Photo: Doc. Prabowo Subianto's Media Team

SINGAPORE - Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto, chatted with United States Defense Minister (US SecDef) Lloyd James Austin III in Singapore. The two greeted each other when they met at the Dutch Pavillion Hotel Shangri-La Singapore.

The casual conversation between the two ministers began with greeting each other. Defense Minister Lloyd jokingly said he wanted to hear Prabowo make a speech like when he gave the opening speech at the Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama Dialogue 2021 forum in Bahrain in November 2021.

"Thank God, thank God, this time I don't have to make a speech", Prabowo said in response to Lloyd with a laugh, as quoted from a written statement from the Prabowo Subianto Media Team, Friday, June 10.

Prabowo is in Singapore to speak at a panel discussion entitled “Managing Geopolitical Competition in a Multipolar Region” at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2022 forum, which is one of the most important forums for senior world officials to share new perspectives on the evolving security challenges in Asia. .

Earlier at last year's IISS Manama Dialogue, Prabowo delivered an opening speech emphasizing that power balanced with virtue is the key to world peace, and world leaders need to reflect the values of virtue and respect for one another.

“Leaders must reflect virtue and respect. The great powers of the world need to live this up. Only then will history judge them. Not only to be a great power, but more important and eternal, namely to become a great civilization", Prabowo said in his speech last year at IISS Manama Bahrain 2021.

In addition to meeting with the US Defense Minister, Prabowo on the same day paid a courtesy call to Singapore's Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen at the Singapore Ministry of Defence. The meeting began with the two ministers reviewing the Guard of Honor.

On the same day on different occasions, Prabowo had a casual conversation with Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. The two ministers exchanged views on global issues while enjoying breakfast and a cup of coffee.