Prabowo Receives Japanese Defence Minister, Gifted Model of Warship Mikasa

President Prabowo Subianto received a souvenir model of the battleship Mikasa from Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi during a meeting at his private residence on Kertanegara IV in Jakarta on Friday evening. Koizumi stated that the model came from Yokosuka, his hometown in Japan. ‘When I met President Prabowo at his private residence in Indonesia, I brought a model of the battleship Mikasa from Yokosuka, my hometown, as a gift,’ Koizumi wrote on his X account, @shinjirokoiz, on Saturday. According to Koizumi, President Prabowo, who has a military background and previously served as Minister of Defence, welcomed the gift warmly. During the meeting, Koizumi also expressed appreciation for President Prabowo’s attention to the National Defence Academy in Yokosuka, Japan. At his request, President Prabowo invited several graduates of the Yokosuka National Defence Academy to the meeting, including Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono. ‘I am grateful for the President’s special attention to the defence academy,’ Koizumi said. Furthermore, Koizumi stated that he and Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin agreed to follow up on the results of discussions held with President Prabowo and to report on subsequent developments. ‘Despite a one-day working visit to Indonesia, we achieved results that will strengthen Japan-Indonesia relations in the future. President Prabowo, thank you very much,’ he said. In addition to holding the meeting, President Prabowo also hosted Koizumi for dinner at Kertanegara IV, Jakarta. The dinner was also attended by Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Foreign Minister Sugiono, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto, Japanese parliamentarians, and representatives from the business community. Koizumi noted that maritime security and the safeguarding of sea lanes are important issues not only for Japan and Indonesia but also for the wider region. He expressed hope that bilateral cooperation can continue to be strengthened to support regional and global stability and prosperity. ‘I feel this visit serves as a catalyst for Japan and Indonesia to further deepen cooperation for the stability and prosperity of the region and the world. Thank you to President Prabowo and all the people of Indonesia,’ Koizumi said.