US Defense Secretary supports Indonesia's military modernization

(Patria) - U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin emphasized the importance of modernizing the Indonesian military in a meeting with the chief of defense, as Washington strengthens ties in Southeast Asia amid geopolitical rivalry with China, Reuters reported.

Austin hosted Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, a former special forces commander and political veteran expected to run for president next year, at the Pentagon on Thursday.

The meeting comes as Indonesia, an archipelago of 270 million people, seeks to upgrade its military and replace aging weaponry, allocating $8.89 billion for defense this year, with a similar amount for next year.

In the past decade, Indonesia's per capita defense spending and its spending as a percentage of gross domestic product have been the lowest among Southeast Asia’s six developing market economies, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The Pentagon said the defense ministers of the two countries share a common intent to increase defense capabilities “such as fighter jet upgrades, new multirole fighter jets, and additional fixed- and rotary-wing transport aircraft”.

Indonesia is seeking to upgrade its fighter jets, which currently include U.S.-made F-16s and Russian Sukhoi Su-27s and Su-30s.

On Monday, Indonesia announced a deal to buy 24 transport helicopters from U.S. company Lockheed Martin for an undisclosed fee. This month, it announced the purchase of 12 new drones from Turkish Aerospace for $300 million.

Austin and Prabowo also said China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea “are not consistent with international law,” the Pentagon statement said.

Indonesia’s Defense Ministry said the two countries are committed to preserving peace, security, and stability in the region, as well as maintaining an “open, inclusive, and rules-based order.”