Indonesia, U.S. expand cooperation with focus on maritime security, military modernization

Gusty Da Costa

As Indonesia and the United States celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations, their defense cooperation is growing stronger, reflecting their commitment to regional stability and mutual security interests. The partnership, grounded in shared democratic values and aligned with regional security frameworks, has evolved into a cornerstone of peacekeeping efforts in the Indo-Pacific, officials and analysts say.

During their August 2024 meeting in Jakarta, Indonesian Defense Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto and U.S. Ambassador Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir underscored the significance of a relationship that has benefited over 6,000 Indonesian military personnel through educational and training programs since 1967. Prabowo noted that nine Indonesian cadets are studying at prestigious U.S. military academies and expressed his intent to “further enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly in the field of defense,” Indonesia’s Defense Ministry stated.

The meeting came after several engagements between Indonesian and U.S. defense officials, including an April 2024 meeting between Gen. Agus Subiyanto, commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, and Gen. Charles Flynn, commander of the U.S. Army Pacific. The discussions are part of a broader effort to deepen interoperability and address security challenges, particularly in the South China Sea, where tensions over territorial disputes continue to simmer.

Flynn highlighted the significance of the multinational Super Garuda Shield exercise, conducted in Indonesia in August and September, to the growing partnership. “Super Garuda Shield 2024 is a great example of how our strategic land power network showcases the unity and collective commitment to a safe, stable, and secure Indo-Pacific,” he said in a statement provided to FORUM by the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta.

Bilateral military collaboration fits the regional goals of both nations, according to Alex Jemadu, an international relations expert at Indonesia’s Pelita Harapan University. Indonesia benefits from “a wider defense network” and is better equipped to maintain regional security, particularly in the face of the People’s Republic of China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea.

“The U.S. presence serves as a counterbalance to China’s dominance, allowing ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] countries like Indonesia to uphold a rule-based regional security architecture,” Jemadu told FORUM.

The U.S. has pledged more than $5 million to boost Indonesia’s maritime domain awareness and enforcement, along with $3 million for a maritime training center in Batam, Indonesia, the U.S. Embassy stated. The initiative supports a bilateral Maritime Security Cooperation Work Plan, announced in 2023, to combat illegal fishing and other maritime crime.

The U.S. also has supported Indonesia through transfers of military assets, including F-16 fighter jets, C-130 transport aircraft and Apache helicopters, said Chairil Tangguh, a defense analyst at Indonesia’s Bina Nusantara University. “These various forms of defense cooperation have had a positive impact in improving the capability and professionalism of the Indonesian military, as well as the readiness of the Indonesian defense system,” he told FORUM.

The nations’ inaugural 2+2 Foreign Policy and Defense Dialogue in October 2023, which involved senior policymakers, marked a new chapter in military cooperation, with a focus on expanding joint exercises, enhancing cybersecurity and bolstering maritime security.

“We are proud that U.S. and Indonesian forces are training side by side and look forward to continued, increased security collaboration,” Lakhdhir said.

Gusty Da Costa is a FORUM contributor based in Jakarta, Indonesia.