Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with Indonesian Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto on October 20 to discuss opportunities for further alignment between the United States and Indonesia as the two countries pursue a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, as well as issues of global concern.
Secretary Austin expressed appreciation for Indonesia's leadership role within ASEAN, in the Indo-Pacific, and around the world. Both leaders emphasized the importance of continued cooperation as regional security dynamics become increasingly complex. To support this aim, Secretary Austin expressed his interest in continuing to assist Indonesia's military modernization and to strengthen interoperability between the United States and Indonesia.
The two leaders discussed significant advancements in U.S.-Indonesia defense cooperation, including the recent expansion of exercise "Super" Garuda Shield this summer, the largest-ever exercise between the two countries.
Secretary Austin expressed his support for Minister Prabowo's focus on military professionalization, noting that Indonesia now has cadets in three U.S. service academies. He also emphasized the importance of the shared values between the United States and Indonesia—two of the world's largest democracies. Both leaders reiterated the importance of maintaining the international rules and norms that preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific.