Indonesia-US Defense Partnership Announced Amid Prabowo’s Moscow Visit The United States and Indonesia have announced a new defense partnership focused on maintaining peace and stability in Asia, coinciding with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The agreement, formalized as the Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (MDCP), was announced following a bilateral meeting between Indonesia’s Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon on April 13, 2026. The joint statement emphasized the partnership as the result of “decades of cooperation” and highlighted the strength of the bilateral defense relationship. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation based on mutual respect, sovereignty, and shared interest in regional peace and stability. Hegseth noted Indonesia’s role in President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative and its leadership in the International Stabilization Force for Gaza, stating the MDCP “bolsters regional deterrence and advances our shared commitment to peace through strength.” Sjafrie expressed Indonesia’s “very great enthusiasm to continue to develop our defense relationship.” The MDCP is structured around three foundational pillars: military modernization and capacity building. training and professional military education; and exercises and operational cooperation. President Prabowo’s visit to Moscow on the same day included discussions with President Putin on increasing cooperation in energy and economic sectors, with Indonesian Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya confirming talks covered long-term cooperation in oil and gas industries. Although the U.S. Partnership provides defense hardware, the Russian relationship supports Indonesia’s economic needs, particularly in energy.
27