ASIATODAY.ID, KUALA LUMPUR — Indonesia’s Minister of Defense, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, held a bilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday, October 31, 2025. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 19th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM).
The discussion focused on enhancing the Indonesia–U.S. strategic defense partnership. Secretary Hegseth praised the success of the Super Garuda Shield joint military exercise held in September, calling it “the largest and most complex military drill ever conducted in Indonesia.”
Minister Sjafrie reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to advancing bilateral defense cooperation.
“We will continue to prioritize and develop our defense cooperation so that Indonesia can continue to learn from the U.S. Armed Forces,” he stated.
He also expressed appreciation for U.S. participation in Super Garuda Shield, adding,
“We are honored to have hosted this joint exercise and hope the U.S. Armed Forces will continue to expand the next Garuda Shield.”
Stability, Peace, and Defense Self-Reliance
Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin also attended the 19th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), where defense leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening unity, solidarity, and sustained peace and stability across the region.
The ADMM served as a strategic platform for ASEAN defense ministers to reinforce regional solidarity, build mutual trust, and formulate collective strategies in addressing increasingly complex security challenges.
Indonesia reiterated its dedication to maintaining regional stability, peace, and defense self-reliance — consistent with its Total Defense doctrine and ASEAN’s vision of “Unity for Security and Prosperity.”
Key outcomes from the 19th ADMM included the adoption of a Joint Statement on the Implementation of the ASEAN Political–Security Community Strategic Plan under the ASEAN Vision 2045, and the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration on ASEAN Unity for Security and Prosperity. (AT Network)
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