Indonesia and US Sign Historic Defense Cooperation Arrangement

United States (US) Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has signed a historic Defense Cooperation Arrangement.

IDXChannel - United States (US) Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has signed a historic Defense Cooperation Arrangement (DCA) between the two countries in Jakarta on 16 November. 

DCA is expected to unlock new opportunities for advanced cooperation that the US will explore with Indonesia.

The two leaders celebrated the recent upgrade of the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by Presidents Joe Biden and Joko Widodo and discussed ways to expand training opportunities, increase educational exchanges, and improve maritime domain awareness.

“Minister Prabowo and I just signed a historic Defense Cooperation Arrangement on the margins of the ADMM-Plus here in Jakarta,” noted Secretary Austin in a media release.

"The deepening defense relationship between the United States and Indonesia forms a core part of our newly upgraded Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," he added.

Secretary Austin noted to reporters that the signing follows the largest-ever iteration of Super Garuda Shield in Indonesia in September.  

"In that exercise, we had seven participating countries with 11 observer nations," he stated.

While in Indonesia, Secretary Austin attend the 10th annual ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus, one year after the United States’ elevation of its relationship with ASEAN to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. (WHY)