High-level US-Indonesia defence meeting aims to keep China at bay as Donald Trump ‘tries to solidify his legacy in Asia’
- Acting US Defence Secretary Christopher Miller met with his counterpart, Prabowo Subianto, in Jakarta on Monday to discuss military cooperation
- Analysts say the visit, which includes a stop in the Philippines, seeks to tie the hands of the incoming Biden administration
The acting defence secretary, Christopher Miller, was greeted by a military guard of honour in Jakarta before a meeting with his counterpart, Prabowo Subianto, and with Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi and Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto,
“In all these meetings, the secretary emphasised the importance that the Department of Defence places on the bilateral partnership and in securing a free and open South China Sea and Indo-Pacific region,” said a statement from the US Department of the Defence.
“With Minister Prabowo, the secretary discussed maritime security, defence procurements, information sharing, and military education. The secretary and Air Chief Marshal Hadi discussed the South China Sea and opportunities to increase military training between the two countries.”
According to Zachary Abuza, a professor of Southeast Asia studies at the Washington-based National War College, the Trump administration has been “singularly focused on the threat of China” and continues to try to assemble “a group of countries that share their ideological proclivities and fear of China” – including Indonesia.
“I think the Trump administration … wants to do things that will make it hard for the Biden administration to reverse or walk back without political consequences,” said Abuza, who specialises in terrorism and security affairs.