United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has praised the formation of a “major defence cooperation partnership” with Indonesia, describing it as a reflection of the “strength and potential” of bilateral ties aimed at sustaining stability across the Asia-Pacific region.
Hegseth welcomed Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin to the Pentagon on Monday, where both officials formalised the agreement. According to a statement from the US Department of Defense, the partnership is expected to deepen military collaboration between the two nations.
“This [partnership] signifies the strength and potential of our security relationship… bolsters regional deterrence, and advances our shared commitment to peace through strength,” Hegeseth said.
He further noted that defence relations between Washington and Jakarta are “active and growing,” highlighting that their armed forces jointly participate in more than 170 military exercises annually.
A joint communiqué outlined plans for the co-development of “sophisticated asymmetric capabilities” and next-generation defence technologies, particularly in maritime, subsurface, and autonomous systems, alongside efforts to enhance operational readiness.
“We are here as Indonesian delegates… with very great enthusiasm to continue to develop our defence relationship, [which] should be enduring for our next generation in Indonesia and the United States of America,” Sjafrie was quoted as saying.
“We’re working on behalf of mutual respect and mutual benefit to enhance [the] value of our national interests,” he added.
The agreement comes amid reports within Indonesia suggesting that both countries are considering granting US military aircraft broader access to Indonesian airspace. Several media outlets indicated that Prabowo Subianto had approved a proposal for “blanket” overflight rights.
However, Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence clarified that discussions remain at an early stage, involving only a draft “Letter of Intent” that is neither finalised nor legally binding. The ministry emphasised that any such arrangement would uphold national sovereignty and comply with domestic laws.
“The deal is not final. It is not legally binding. It cannot be used as a basis for official government policy,” Defence Minister Sjafrie’s spokesman, Rico Ricardo Sirait, told the Jakarta Globe.
“Authority, control, and oversight over Indonesian airspace rest entirely in our country. Any potential regulation shall guarantee Indonesia’s full authority to approve or reject any activity in national airspace,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Prabowo is scheduled to meet Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Tuesday, following recent discussions with Vladimir Putin regarding oil cooperation, according to government sources cited by AFP.
In a separate development last month, Prabowo’s administration introduced fuel rationing measures and mandated a weekly work-from-home policy for civil servants, as energy prices surged in the wake of tensions linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
