Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook provided the following statement:
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter hosted Indonesian Minister of Defense Ryamizard Ryacudu this morning at the Pentagon to discuss ways to strengthen the bilateral defense relationship between the two countries.
They discussed the regional security environment as well as opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation in areas such as defense trade and technology, maritime security and cybersecurity. Secretary Carter and Minister Ryacudu talked about enhancing the complexity of joint exercises and moving forward on defense acquisitions. Secretary Carter also previewed his upcoming participation in the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting, citing it as another opportunity to continue the dialogue and deepen the bilateral defense relationship with Indonesia.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Secretary Carter and Minister Ryacudu signed the Joint Statement for Comprehensive Defense Cooperation. The joint statement commemorates existing defense ties, acknowledges recent advancements, and will serve as common guide to expand future defense collaboration. The statement covers the five pillars of defense engagement: maritime, peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, defense modernization, and countering transnational threats. It also opens the door for more interaction in defense trade and technology and cybersecurity.