India, Indonesia agree to enhance defence cooperation, strategic partnership

Jakarta [Indonesia], May 30 (ANI): India and Indonesia on Wednesday agreed to take steps to enhance their defence cooperation in line with their existing bilateral strategic partnership.
A joint statement issued after one-on-one talks between Indonesian President Joko Widodo and visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and followed by a delegation-level meeting between the two sides, said both countries have reaffirmed that they are strategic partners and maritime neighbours, and agreed to work to "further strengthen and broaden the already robust defence cooperation."
The joint statement further reaffirmed commitment in the field of defence with the signing of a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between two countries.
This agreement, both sides said, will further strengthen and renew existing cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries and the region.
President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister Modi also agreed that regular meetings and active follow up of decisions of relevant institutional dialogue mechanisms were essential to realize the potential for bilateral defence cooperation.
Both acknowledged the progress made in bilateral defence cooperation after the convening of the First Security Dialogue, the Second Biennial Defence Ministerial Dialogue, and the Fifth Joint Defence Cooperation Committee.
They, according to the joint statement, further looked forward to the convening of the Sixth Joint Defence Cooperation Committee in August this year.
President Widodo and Prime Minister Modi also agreed to further enhance mutual trust through regular meetings and staff talks between armies, navies and air forces of the two countries and took positive note of the First Air Force to Air Force Staff Talks.
Both noted with satisfaction that ongoing joint exercise and training as well as coordinated patrol between their respective navies and welcomed the decision to hold bilateral joint exercises between their navies and air forces with an endorsement upon the finalisation of Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) by both Navies and Air Forces.
The two leaders also expressed their appreciation over the holding of the 6th Garuda Shakti Army Exercises involving Special Forces in Bandung between February 18 and March 3 this year and welcomed the growing engagement in military training and interactions at all levels, including regular cadet exchanges. They noted the desire of both sides to institutionalise cooperation between Indonesian Defence University and National Defence College India.
Both President Widodo and Prime Minister Modi welcomed the convening of First Security Dialogue in New Delhi on January 9 this year during which participants discussed security-related issues in a comprehensive manner. It was then resolved to significantly enhance bilateral cooperation in countering terrorism, terrorist financing, money laundering, arms smuggling, trafficking in persons and cyber crime. They looked forward to the convening of the next Security Dialogue this year. (ANI)