Indonesian and Australian Army Chiefs of Staff Affirm Friendship, Strengthen Military Cooperation Between the Two Countries
JAKARTA-JAYA NEWS.COM – Indonesian Army Chief of Staff (Kasad), General Maruli Simanjuntak, M.Sc., received a courtesy call from the Chief of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, at Army Headquarters (Mabesad), Jakarta, Monday (September 8, 2025). The meeting was warm and friendly, and served as an important opportunity to strengthen the commitment to ongoing military cooperation between the Indonesian Army and the Australian Army.
The Australian Army Chief of Staff’s arrival began with an official welcome by the Army Chief of Staff along with other senior TNI AD officials, followed by a military honors ceremony to honor the visit.
This meeting marked the strengthening of the bilateral relationship between the two armies, which has been fostered through various collaborative programs. On that occasion, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart also stated that he would soon be retiring and expressed his appreciation for the good relationship that had been built between the two countries during his leadership.
Lieutenant General Simon Stuart also expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome from the Indonesian Army. He emphasized the importance of strengthening military collaboration in addressing increasingly complex regional security dynamics and challenges, and expressed his hope that cooperation between the two armies would continue to grow in the future.
Similarly, Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak expressed his appreciation for the Australian Army’s contribution to strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and Australia. He emphasized that the Indonesian Army is committed to continuing this strategic cooperation, including through joint exercises, Army-to-Army Staff Talks, personnel exchanges in education, Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE), and various other forms of collaboration that further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the two sides exchanged souvenirs and engaged in a friendly gathering as a symbol of their strong friendship. This courtesy visit not only strengthened the personal relationship between the army leaders but also strengthened the foundation of future defense cooperation between Indonesia and Australia. *
(Dispenad)
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