AUGUST 25, 2023 – Yesterday, Secretary Austin and Minister Prabowo reaffirmed the strength of the defense pillar of our enduring Strategic Partnership. Together, they resolved to preserve international laws and norms, enhance our mutual security and defense capabilities, and remain guided by our shared democratic principles.
They shared their determination to further strengthen our relationship, ensuring that it is robust and capable of seizing future opportunities and tackling emerging challenges in an increasingly complex geopolitical climate.
Shared Vision
Minister Prabowo and Secretary Austin agreed that the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and the United States’ Indo-Pacific Strategy share fundamental principles, such as a commitment to maintaining peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region through ASEAN Centrality, and that we should work alongside partners who share these goals and a commitment to an open, inclusive, and rules-based order.
They shared the view that the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea are inconsistent with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Secretary Austin and Minister Prabowo jointly condemned violations of national sovereignty, as reflected in United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-11/1 dated 2 March 2022, as adopted by majority vote, which deplores in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and demands its complete and unconditional withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine.
Stronger Partnership
As the United States and Indonesia move into the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Minister Prabowo and Secretary Austin reaffirmed that our defense partnership is stronger than ever.
They highlighted that the United States and Indonesia hold more than 220 defense engagements annually, from subject-matter expert exchanges to multilateral exercises with thousands of troops, all demonstrating the breadth of our interoperability.
They discussed how, in recent years, we have expanded Exercise GARUDA SHIELD from a bilateral army-to-army exercise to a joint, multinational exercise with over nineteen countries represented, and they committed to seek further opportunities for expansion.
Together, Secretary Austin and Minister Prabowo reaffirmed the importance of Indonesia’s military modernization and discussed both countries’ mutual intention to deepen interoperability through defense capabilities like fighter aircraft upgrades, new multi-role fighter aircraft, and additional fixed and rotary wing transport aircraft.
Shared Values
Secretary Austin and Minister Prabowo also discussed the commitment by the United States and Indonesia, as two of the world’s largest democracies, to the rule of law and the professionalization of our armed forces.
They highlighted that for the first time this year, there were Indonesian cadets in the Army, Air Force, and Naval service academies. Minister Prabowo expressed his appreciation for the education of more than 7,000 Indonesian military personnel and civilians in the United States, as well as training and education funds that have been provided to Indonesian students by the United States, totaling more than $130 million since 1970.
Going forward, as part of our professionalization efforts, Minister Prabowo and Secretary Austin pledged to work together to promote civilian harm mitigation best practices.
They also discussed how our efforts to mitigate and respond to civilian harm directly reflect our values and directly contribute to mission success and public confidence in the armed forces.