Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met yesterday with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Washington, D.C. Secretary Austin congratulated President Prabowo on his recent inauguration and the two leaders discussed ways to advance the U.S.-Indonesia defense relationship, as well as regional and global security issues.
The two leaders discussed shared security concerns in the South China Sea and Indonesia's plans to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza. President Prabowo affirmed his commitment to working closely with the United States to enhance interoperability, and to continue expanding bilateral and multilateral exercises, including Super Garuda Shield.
Secretary Austin and President Prabowo also announced the establishment of the U.S-Indonesia Defense Alumni Association as a critical step to deepen people-to-people ties. Both leaders committed to expand the bilateral defense partnership under the U.S.-Indonesia Defense Cooperation Arrangement, signed last year, and the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework.
