Indonesia and US Sign Major Defense Cooperation Partnership for Joint Military Training

Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth signed the Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (MDCP). The agreement was reached during a meeting at the Pentagon in Virginia, US, on Monday, 13 April 2026 local time.

“US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin today at the Pentagon, where the two leaders agreed to elevate the US-Indonesia bilateral defence relationship to a Major Defense Cooperation Partnership,” said Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, quoted from a written statement by Indonesia’s Government Communication Agency, on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.

The partnership comprises three main pillars, implemented based on principles of mutual respect and national sovereignty. The first is military modernisation and capacity building. The second is professional military training and education. The third is exercises and operational cooperation.

Sjafrie and Hegseth committed to expanding the scope and complexity of bilateral and multilateral exercises, such as Super Garuda Shield, to strengthen collective capabilities and maintain peace.

“The two leaders reaffirmed the important and continuously evolving defence relationship and discussed various shared goals, including enhanced special forces training and professional military education,” said Sean Parnell.

According to the statement from Indonesia’s Government Communication Agency, this cooperation reflects the sustainable development of bilateral defence relations between Indonesia and the US, which have been built over several decades. The two countries mutually recognise each other as important partners.

Indonesia and the US also reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate based on mutual respect, sovereignty, and shared interests in maintaining peace and regional stability.