Sjafrie and US Secretary of War Agree on Defence Cooperation
Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin met with United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon on 13 April 2026. During the meeting, the two announced the formation of the Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (MDCP) between the two countries.
MDCP is intended as a guiding framework to advance bilateral defence cooperation, while reaffirming the joint commitment of both nations to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Your visit demonstrates how important it is for the Department of War to place our continuously developing, active, and increasingly strong security relationship with Indonesia,” said Hegseth on the official US Department of War website, quoted on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.
According to Hegseth, military relations between the two countries continue to grow, with more than 170 joint military exercises conducted each year. He assessed that Sjafrie’s visit reflects the importance of the increasingly active security relationship between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Sjafrie stated that the Indonesian delegation was present with great enthusiasm to continue developing defence relations that are expected to last for generations to come. “We are working on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit to enhance each other’s national interests,” he said.
In the agreement document, this partnership is built on three main pillars, namely the development of military organisation and capacity, professional military training and education, and joint exercises and operational cooperation.
The two countries also agreed to explore the development of cutting-edge defence capabilities, including asymmetric capabilities, next-generation technology in the maritime and underwater domains, and autonomous systems. In addition, cooperation will include support for maintenance, repairs, and enhancements to operational readiness of defence equipment.
The joint statement also mentioned plans to increase combined special forces training to strengthen military-to-military relations between the two countries.
On that occasion, Hegseth also appreciated Indonesia’s support in helping to recover the remains of US military personnel who died in World War II. He stated that this cooperation would be expanded through the signing of a memorandum of understanding that allows further search and recovery processes to be carried out in Indonesia.
Both Hegseth and Sjafrie described this partnership as the “starting line” for a new chapter in defence cooperation between the two countries. For information, the United States and Indonesia have maintained diplomatic relations for more than 75 years since 1949, shortly after Indonesia gained independence.