Indonesia, Malaysia step up defence cooperation

Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto and his Malaysian counterpart, Mohamed Khaled Nordin, discussed opportunities for stronger defence cooperation between the two countries at their meeting on Wednesday in Jakarta.

Prabowo affirmed the Indonesian Ministry of Defence is ready to cooperate with the Malaysian Ministry of Defence, saying that he hopes the two countries will intensify their cooperation in new fields and have closer cooperation in existing areas, especially in the exchange of military students, and defence industry.

The two ministers also deliberated issues related to the annual meeting of the General Border Committee Malaysia-Indonesia (GBC Malindo) – one of the important cooperation forms between the two Southeast Asian nations.

Indonesia and Malaysia have maintained close cooperation in various fields, including defence, which covers the education of cadets and officers, intelligence, trade, defence industry, and security.

In the latest meeting of GBC Malindo in Indonesia last year, the two sides agreed to reactivate 14 joint guard posts in the Indonesia-Malaysia border areas.

GBC Malindo was formed on August 11, 1966, after the restoration of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Malaysia. It has served as a cooperation committee that manages partnerships, especially in the field of security in border areas.