Lloyd J. Austin III Secretary of Defence | Official website
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided a readout of a call between Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto. The call, which took place to discuss the U.S.-Indonesia defense relationship, as well as regional and global security issues, highlighted several key points.
During the call, Secretary Austin reiterated President Biden's congratulations to Minister Prabowo on his recent victory in Indonesia's presidential election. The two leaders also discussed the importance of Indonesia's military modernization and expressed mutual intentions to deepen interoperability through closer cooperation on air and maritime defense capabilities.
Secretary Austin expressed gratitude towards Indonesia for its recent airdrop of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, acknowledging the country's significant role as a global leader. He also emphasized the shared values between the United States and Indonesia as two of the world's largest democracies.
Both Secretary Austin and Minister Prabowo underscored the importance of upholding international rules and norms that safeguard a free and open Indo-Pacific. The reaffirmation of these values reflects the commitment of both countries to promoting stability and security in the region.
