Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto Visits 4 ASEAN Nations to Solidify Defense Cooperation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Defense Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto visited four ASEAN member countries namely Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, and Laos this week to solidify defense cooperation.

During the visit, which extended from September 5 to 7, 2024, Prabowo also stopped by in Bangkok, Thailand, for an unofficial meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her father Thaksin Shinawatra, who headed the Thai government from 2001 to 2006.

According to head of the ministry's public relations bureau, Brigadier General Edwin Adrian Sumantha, Prabowo landed in Malaysia on Saturday and went straight to the State Palace in Kuala Lumpur to meet with the King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim.

During the meeting, he reiterated Indonesia's commitment to establishing closer defense ties with Malaysia.

"I appreciate the strong relationship between our two countries and will continue to strive to improve cooperation, especially in the defense sector. I appreciate the good wishes of Your Majesty and hope that our partnership will continue to grow for the common good," Prabowo told the Sultan.

He also expressed the hope that the 44th General Border Committee (GBC) Malaysia-Indonesia (Malindo) meeting, which Malaysia will host this year, would help re-establish the partnership between the two countries.

Prabowo began his Southeast Asia visit on Thursday from Brunei Darussalam, where he met with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at Nurul Iman Palace, Bandar Seri Begawan, to discuss potential cooperation in the defense industry.

During the meeting, Prabowo also offered an additional scholarship quota for officers from the Brunei Armed Forces to continue their master's studies at the Indonesian Defense University.

On Thursday evening, Prabowo left for Vientiane, Laos. He met Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith and then Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone the next morning.

"We understand that Indonesia and Laos are not only establishing bilateral relations, but we are also committed to maintaining regional stability and security within the framework of the ASEAN community," he told Siphandone.

During his meeting with the Laotian Prime Minister, Prabowo also expressed Indonesia's readiness to share its expertise in disaster management.

"We also hope to engage in joint exercises to enhance collective response to natural disasters in the region," he said.

He next headed to Phnom Penh to meet Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet and Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

Prabowo told the two high-ranking officials that a strong partnership between Indonesia and Cambodia could contribute to the prosperity and development of the ASEAN region as a whole.

While meeting Hun Sen, Prabowo also emphasized the need for the two countries to explore new opportunities for cooperation in the future.

"In the future, it is very important for the two countries to actively seek and explore new opportunities for collaboration, ensuring that our partnership remains strong and responsive to emerging challenges and opportunities," he said.

ANTARA

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