US, Indonesia Announce New Defence Partnership

THE US and Indonesia have established the Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (MDCP) intended to serve as a guiding framework to advance bilateral defence cooperation. The agreement was signed during a visit by Indonesian defence minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin to the Department of War (DOW), meeting the US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

The MDCP features three foundational pillars implemented based on mutual respect and national sovereignty–Military modernisation and capacity building, training and professional military education, exercises and operational cooperation.

Under the MDCP framework, the US and Indonesia will explore mutually agreed cutting-edge initiatives, including co-developing sophisticated asymmetric capabilities pioneering next-generation defence technologies in the maritime, subsurface, and autonomous systems domains, and cooperating on maintenance, repair, and overhaul support to improve operational readiness.

“As a symbol of this elevated partnership, and reflective of the deep trust between their nations, both leaders have also committed to enhance joint special forces training. These engagements will advance mutual security interests and forge even stronger, more resilient bonds between American and Indonesian service members through expanded opportunities in premier professional military education and the establishment of defence alumni ties”, a US DOW statement read.

This partnership is representative of the continued development of the U.S.-Indonesia bilateral defence relationship, built upon decades of cooperation. Both countries recognise each other as important partners and reaffirm their commitment to cooperation based on mutual respect, sovereignty, and shared interest in regional peace and stability.

“Your visit demonstrates the importance that the War Department places on our growing security relationship — and it is active and growing — with Indonesia,” Hegseth told Sjamsoeddin, just before noting that the two countries complete more than 170 military exercises together each year.

“Today, we are here as Indonesian delegates … with very great enthusiasm to continue to develop our defence relationship, which should be enduring for our next generation in Indonesia and the USA,” Sjamsoeddin said. “We’re working on behalf of mutual respect and mutual benefit to enhance the value of our national interests.”

In the meantime, media reports reported that both countries were discussing access for US military flights over Indonesian airspace. The reports stated that the US is seeking “blanket overnight access” for American ⁠military ‌aircraft through Indonesian airspace, with Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto reportedly approving the proposal.

Indonesia’s foreign ministry was then reported to have issued a letter before the Sjamsoeddin-Hegseth meeting, warning the defence ministry that any such agreement would risk entangling the country in potential South China Sea conflicts.–-shp/adj/dl (Pix:DOW)