Indonesian and Qatari Defence Ministers Sign MoU for Joint Military Exercises
The Indonesian Minister of Defence, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, received the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Qatar, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani. During the meeting, Sjafrie and Saoud signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the defence sector.
“Today, an MoU will be signed to serve as a bridge towards a Defence Cooperation Agreement. Additionally, an MoU will be implemented between the defence industries of Indonesia and Qatar to enhance our cooperation,” stated Sjafrie during a joint statement at the Indonesian Ministry of Defence office in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (2/6/2026).
Sjafrie expressed confidence that the partnership with Qatar would yield benefits for both nations and is expected to increase Indonesia’s defence capacity. “Indonesia believes that this cooperation will undoubtedly produce mutual benefit and mutual respect between Indonesia and Qatar, and we will strengthen our defence capacity and cooperation in the future,” he said.
Qatari Defence Minister Sheikh Saoud noted that the cooperation would encompass joint military exercises and the advancement of the defence industry. He expressed his belief that the partnership would bring positive outcomes. “We have various different areas of cooperation, one of which is in the field of training and joint exercises. The second area is in the defence industry, where we are working with our brothers in Indonesia. Today, we witness the signing of several cooperation agreements in the form of MoUs, which are expected to lead to a formal defence agreement between our two nations,” said Sheikh Saoud.
Saoud expressed his anticipation for the development of bilateral cooperation and thanked Indonesia for its hospitality. “Once again, I thank my beloved brother for hosting and receiving us. We look forward to further cooperation between our two nations to strengthen our relationship in the future,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Head of Information and Public Relations of the Ministry of Defence Secretariat-General, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, mentioned that Minister Sjafrie also presented the ‘Dharma Pertahanan’ award to Sheikh Saoud. The award serves as an appreciation of Qatar’s commitment to strengthening friendship and defence cooperation with Indonesia. “This reflects recognition of Qatar’s role as a strategic partner for Indonesia in the Middle East region, in the fields of defence, diplomacy, and support for international stability and peace,” said Rico.