Indonesia, Australia to deepen military relations

From Antara News (Oct 27): Indonesia, Australia to deepen military relations

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesias Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said here on Thursday that Indonesia and Australia would discuss efforts to deepen their military relations at the 2+2 meeting scheduled to be held in Bali on Friday

"We will discuss how to deal with the South China Sea issue as well as the threats of terrorism which are our common enemy. The talks will be aimed at deepening our relations," he stated after a press conference on "Two Years of Concrete Work by Jokowi-JK," at Bina Graha, the state secretariat.

He informed that the Australian Defense Minister has invited him to visit some military sites, such as the Marine Corps headquarters in Darwin, to show how open the two countries were in the military field.

"I will never meddle in the affairs of other countries and similarly other countries also must not meddle into our affairs," he stressed.

Ryamizard noted that Indonesia would not reject Australias offer if it would invite it to a joint exercise to prevent security threats in the region or elsewhere.

Indonesia has also discussed with Malaysia and the Philippines ways to jointly overcome potential threats in Sulu waters, such as the recent cases of hijacking.

The 2+2 meeting took place thrice in the past. These meetings are aimed at strengthening cooperation and increasing mutual confidence in the military sector.

A 2+2 meeting was held with Japan in Tokyo on December 17, 2015.

Various issues were discussed in three main groups at the meeting in 2015. These issues were grouped as bilateral, regional and global.

The regional cluster covered political and security developments in the Asian region, including the South China Sea dispute, Japans new military policy and the results of the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 2015.

Indonesia and Japan contribute actively to the US peace keeping forces.

On a bilateral level, discussions focused on efforts to increase economic and defense cooperation.

http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/107439/indonesia-australia-to-deepen-military-relations