Indonesia, US Upgrade Defense Ties Through Major Cooperation Partnership
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- Indonesia and the United States have agreed to elevate bilateral military ties through a new Major Defense Cooperation Partnership announced after a Pentagon meeting.
- The new defense framework focuses on military modernization, professional training and expanded joint exercises, including Super Garuda Shield.
- Jakarta and Washington said the upgraded partnership reflects their shared commitment to regional peace, sovereignty and Indo-Pacific stability.
JAKARTA — Indonesia and the United States have agreed to upgrade their defense cooperation to a Major Defense Cooperation Partnership, or MDCP, a new framework aimed at strengthening bilateral military relations and supporting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
The agreement was formalized during a meeting between Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon on Monday, April 13, local time.
“Both leaders agreed to elevate the United States-Indonesia bilateral defense relationship to a Major Defense Cooperation Partnership,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in an official statement seen in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Parnell said the MDCP is built on three main pillars and will be implemented based on mutual respect and recognition of national sovereignty.
Those pillars include military modernization and capacity building, professional military training and education, as well as joint exercises and operational cooperation, he said.
The Pentagon spokesman added that Sjafrie and Hegseth also committed to expanding the scope and complexity of bilateral and multilateral military drills, including Super Garuda Shield.
According to Parnell, the enhanced cooperation is intended to strengthen the collective capabilities of both armed forces as part of broader efforts to safeguard peace in the region.
“Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of the defense relationship and its continued growth, while also discussing shared priorities, including expanded special forces training and professional military education,” he added.
During the same meeting, Hegseth also praised Indonesia for its participation in the Board of Peace and for its decision to accept a command role in the International Stabilization Force in Gaza, Parnell said.
The newly agreed partnership reflects continued efforts to build on the longstanding defense relationship between Indonesia and the United States, which has been developed over several decades.
Indonesia and the US also recognized each other as key partners in the defense sector.
Both countries reiterated their commitment to working together on the basis of mutual respect, respect for sovereignty and shared interests in preserving regional peace and stability, according to the Pentagon statement. (Antara/Ans)
