The United States announced on Monday a defense partnership with Indonesia described as “major,” involving military modernization, capacity building, and training, according to a joint statement.
Jakarta stated that a U.S. proposal to allow U.S. military aircraft access to Indonesian airspace is under “careful examination,” requiring further discussions and adherence to national procedures.
“We are elevating our relationship to a major defense cooperation partnership, recognizing the strength and potential of our bilateral ties in this field,” said U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a statement published on X.
According to the joint statement, this partnership encompasses “military modernization and capacity building,” “training and professional military education,” as well as “exercises and operational cooperation.”
“The two nations reaffirm their shared commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” the statement specifies.
The Indonesian government noted that this partnership presents an “opportunity to enhance national defense capabilities,” emphasizing the preservation of “free and active foreign policy, national interests, and full respect for state sovereignty.”
According to the defense analysis website Global Firepower, Indonesia boasts the most powerful military in Southeast Asia.
While Jakarta upholds a non-aligned diplomatic stance, the country joined the BRICS grouping of emerging economies last year, which includes Russia and China.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was in Moscow on Monday to meet Vladimir Putin for discussions on energy. He also signed a commercial agreement with U.S. President Donald Trump and joined his “Peace Council.”
Indonesia holds a strategic position on the Malacca Strait, deemed by the U.S. Energy Information Agency as the world’s busiest oil and petroleum product passage.
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