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Pentagon chief congratulates Prabowo on being elected President
During the telephone call, the two also discussed the US-Indonesia defense relationship, as well as regional and global security issues.
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Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto (left) walks with United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin (right) on Aug. 24, 2023, during the former's visit to the Pentagon in Virginia, the United States. (-/Instagram/@prabowo)
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nited States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with president-elect Prabowo Subianto in a telephone conversation on Wednesday in which the Pentagon chief congratulated his counterpart on his victory in the Feb. 14 presidential election.
During the call, the two also discussed the US-Indonesia defense relationship, as well as regional and global security issues.
"Together, Secretary Austin and Minister Prabowo reaffirmed the importance of Indonesia’s military modernization, and discussed both countries’ mutual intention to deepen interoperability through closer cooperation on air and maritime defense capabilities," the US Embassy in Jakarta said in a statement published on Wednesday.
Austin also reiterated the importance of maintaining the international rules and norms that preserved a free and open Indo-Pacific.
In a statement published on Thursday, Prabowo said he was "pleased to receive a warm phone call from an esteemed friend".
He also said his conversation with Austin reflected their shared commitment to advancing the mutual interests of the two nations.
"I look forward to enhance our partnership and collaborating closely on strategic issues," Prabowo said in an Instagram post published on Thursday morning.
Prabowo flew to Arlington, Virginia, the US, in September of last year to meet with Austin at the Pentagon.
The visit came after Prabowo signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Boeing for the purchase of 24 state-of-the-art F-15EX fighter jets, as well as another deal to procure 24 Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk helicopters from defense contractor Lockheed Martin.
