Jakarta, InfoPublik - The Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto signed Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) in a bilateral meeting with his counterpart, French Defense Minister Florence Parly, at the Hôtel de Brienne in Paris, Monday, 28 June.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, 29 June, the Indonesian Embassy in Paris revealed the DCA is a result of the meeting of both ministers in January 2020. After a long negotiation in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides agreed on the document that serves as an umbrella to strengthen cooperation and the strategic partnership between the two countries.

“DCA serves as an umbrella to create a future comprehensive defense cooperation between Indonesia and France that will bring mutual benefits in various fields of interest of both countries,” said Minister Prabowo.

DCA expands the scope of cooperation between Indonesia and France. Several key points in this cooperation include military education and training; defense science and technology; peacekeeping forces; counter-terrorism; and research and development in the defense industry including joint production.

It also mentions humanitarian and disaster relief cooperation, for the COVID-19 pandemic for example.

The two countries will be able to maximize their potential and advantage, such as cybersecurity and defense equipment, and increase defense production capacity by making Indonesia part of the global production chain of defense equipment products.

The DCA is expected to develop the interaction between the two countries in the field of defense as one of the major cooperation sectors in the strategic partnership agreement.

“I hope the DCA will improve the communication and cooperation not only between the two ministries but also the armed forces, such as between the two air forces and armies, especially in the field of training and education," said Minister Prabowo.

In the meeting, the two ministers exchanged thoughts over a variety of issues of mutual interest, particularly the efforts to strengthen cooperation. They see a lot of opportunities to create peace in the region, especially to support the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the French Strategy in the Indo-Pacific.

At the meeting, Minister Prabowo was accompanied by the Indonesian Ambassador to France, Defense Minister's Special Assistant, and Defense Attache.

(Photo: Indonesian Defense Ministry's Public Relations Bureau, Writer: Yudi Rahmat, Editor: Untung S, Translator: Filmon Leonard Warouw)