Strengthening Ties and Regional Cooperation
Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on April 3rd in Tokyo, following a visit to China. Subianto, who is currently the Indonesian Defense Minister, emphasized the long-standing friendship and cooperative relationship between the two countries, expressing his desire to further strengthen these ties.
This meeting comes amidst Japan's efforts to build closer relationships with Southeast Asian nations, particularly in maritime security and defense, in response to China's growing military presence in the region. Subianto's first official overseas trip after his February election victory was to Beijing, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and pledged a continued friendly policy towards China. This move aimed to emphasize Indonesia's commitment to maintaining stable relations with China despite rising tensions in the South China Sea.
Kishida welcomed Subianto's visit to Tokyo, highlighting the shared values and principles between the two nations. He expressed Japan's desire to further strengthen cooperation on regional and global issues as "comprehensive and strategic partners." Japan hopes to contribute to Indonesia's development in areas such as infrastructure and energy, while also increasing cooperation in security and defense.
This meeting comes just a week before Kishida's trip to Washington for a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The leaders are expected to discuss further reinforcing security ties in the region.
Later on April 3rd, Subianto met with Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara. The two ministers pledged to enhance defense cooperation, including expanding joint exercises in the Indo-Pacific region, capacity building, and educational programs. Kihara emphasized his commitment to strengthening cooperation between the two maritime nations to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law.