Jakarta (ANTARA) - US Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge A. Colby\nhas stated that the United States is opening up opportunities for a new\npartnership with Indonesia, emphasising that the US respects Indonesian\nsovereignty.<\/p>\n
In an online media briefing monitored in Jakarta on Thursday, Colby\nsaid that discussions with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and\nDefence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin were productive and opened new\navenues for a mutually respectful partnership between the US and\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
According to Colby, the technical details of the bilateral\ncooperation will be formulated together while respecting Indonesia\u2019s\nsovereignty and spirit of nationalism. The cooperation is designed to\nstrengthen Indonesia\u2019s ability to safeguard its sovereignty, national\nidentity, and security comprehensively.<\/p>\n
Colby noted that the cooperation is not intended to force Indonesia\nto choose sides in an increasingly unpredictable global situation, but\nrather to enable Indonesia to protect its security and sovereignty\nindependently in accordance with its national interests.<\/p>\n
\u201cBased on this visit, we see a great opportunity\u2026 where the approach\nis not to ask a country like Indonesia to choose one side or the other,\nbut rather a cooperation that is truly designed to enable Indonesia to\nprotect its own security and sovereignty,\u201d Colby said.<\/p>\n
On 11 August, Colby met with Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie\nSjamsoeddin, followed by a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto the\nnext day in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on the development of\nbilateral relations and the implementation of various programmes under\nthe Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (MDCP) framework established\nearlier.<\/p>\n
Sjafrie stressed that the development of defence cooperation with the\nUS is not directed towards the establishment of US military bases in\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
The cooperation is focused on programmes that benefit the enhancement\nof national defence capacity, particularly in education, training,\npersonnel capability improvement, and interoperability strengthening, in\nline with Indonesia\u2019s needs and interests.<\/p>\n
According to Sjafrie, the partnership is aimed at enhancing the\ncapability and professionalism of the Indonesian National Armed Forces\n(TNI), strengthening the national defence industry, and promoting\ndefence self-reliance in accordance with national interests while\nproviding mutual benefits for both countries.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-opens-door-for-new-partnership-vows-to-respect-indonesian-sovereignty-1786607770", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }