JAKARTA - Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto is seeking to strengthen the defence partnership between Indonesia and the US to tackle the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, said his spokesman Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak.
Recently the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party Chairman had a phone conversation with US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.
“Strong collaboration between countries is very much required [to tackle the pandemic] and hopefully this can be discussed further later in order to develop the defence partnership between the US and Indonesia,” Mr Simanjuntak told Kompas.com, Thursday (2/4).
On Wednesday (1/4) Mr Esper tweeted that he and Mr Subianto had discussed the growing defence partnership between both countries as well as coordination in the handling of the pandemic.
In addition, said Mr Simanjuntak, Mr Subianto told Mr Esper that the Covid-19 pandemic is a challenge faced by all countries that requires international cooperation. In turn, Mr Esper told Mr Subianto that the US government is appreciating the Indonesian government’s effort in tackling the pandemic. (MS)