Indonesian Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto welcomed an honorary visit by Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand H.E. Winston Peters at the Ministry of Defense in Jakarta on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
The bilateral meeting discussed a number of strategic issues related to the latest developments on relevant regional and global issues. The two officials also discussed defense cooperation between the two countries including joint exercises, maritime security cooperation, intelligence, peacekeeping and other strategic areas.
On this occasion, Prabowo expressed his appreciation for the good bilateral relations between Indonesia and New Zealand, and affirmed Indonesia’s commitment to strengthen cooperation in various fields, including defense.
“New Zealand is a close friend and a major partner country in the South Pacific region, especially in the field of defence,” Prabowo said.
Indonesia and New Zealand have common interests and responsibilities to ensure stability and maintain peace, freedom and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. This is in line with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and New Zealand’s Indo-Pacific policy priorities.
Accompanying Prabowo in the meeting were Deputy Minister of Defense, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense, and Special Staff of the Minister of Defence for Defence Management.
Courtesy call by US Ambassador to ASEAN
Earlier in the day, Prabowo received a courtesy call from the US Ambassador to ASEAN H.E. Yohannes Abraham, at his office.
On this occasion, Prabowo expressed his gratitude to the US Ambassador to ASEAN for the visit. One of the topics discussed in the meeting on collaborative efforts at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts’ Working Group on Military Medicine (EWG on MM), as well as defense-related ideas.
“I believe the continued support from each other will make a great contribution in strengthening our ties and cooperation under the ADMM and ADMM-Plus frameworks going forward,” Prabowo said.
Indonesia is the country coordinator of the ASEAN-US relationship until mid-2024, so Indonesia’s support for the proposal to co-host the Gender Advisor Workshop is highly expected by the US.
In addition, the Minister also reiterated his appreciation for America’s involvement and contribution in maintaining regional peace, prosperity and security.
