US offers to sell weapons to support RI’s military modernization

The United States will step up its military cooperation with Indonesia, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said in Singapore on Friday after meeting his Indonesian counterpart Purnomo Yusgiantoro - PHOTO : REUTERS

In a significant development in the fast growing ties between Washington and Jakarta, the United States said on Friday night that it would enhance military cooperation with Indonesia and support the archipelagic nation’s military modernization through US military sales.

Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro met the new US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Friday night. It was the first meeting between the two.

"They reaffirmed the importance of deepening ties in support of the US-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, an initiative of presidents Barack Obama and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, calling for closer ties between our two governments and societies,” Pentagon spokesperson George Little said after the bilateral meeting.

However, according to Little, Hagel emphasized the importance of human rights accountability to sustain the momentum in defense ties between both countries.

Hagel invited Purnomo to Washington for further discussions.

  ● Jakartapost