The ministry will adopt a comprehensive approach to help with security issues concerning transnational crimes, such as illegal fishing, drug trafficking, terrorism movement, weapon smuggling, and international human traffickingJakarta (ANTARA) - Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto underscored the importance of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in helping to strengthen national defense through diplomacy and cooperation with other nations.
To this end, synergy between the Defense Ministry and Foreign Affairs Ministry should be maintained and improved upon, the minister noted through an official statement on Saturday.
In order to maintain that synergy, Subianto directly met with Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi at her Ministry's Office here on Friday.
Subianto and Marsudi discussed various forms of international cooperation that Indonesia has forged with partner countries.
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Subianto expects that cooperation can be a means to realize various national interests, especially in the defense and security aspects.
During the meeting, he also highlighted the nation's defense situation that determines how the cooperation is formed and executed in future.
Meanwhile, Marsudi conveyed to Subianto the expectation that his ministry can assist in realizing Indonesia's various priorities in international politics.
These priorities comprise maintaining the world's defense stability, strengthening the culture of conflict resolution through peaceful means, preserving a peaceful ecosystem, and optimizing Indonesia's role in the United Nations Security Council.
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The Foreign Affairs Ministry will also actively help the Defense Ministry in handling various national defense and security challenges.
"The ministry will adopt a comprehensive approach to help with security issues concerning transnational crimes, such as illegal fishing, drug trafficking, terrorism movement, weapon smuggling, and international human trafficking," she noted through a statement.
The defense minister and foreign minister have an overlapping duty in the form of holding the 2+2 meeting with other nations.
At the meeting, Marsudi and Subianto meet with other nations' foreign affairs ministers and defense ministers to specifically discuss ways to boost cooperation in the security and defense sectors.
Last year, Indonesia had held the 2+2 meeting with Japan and Australia.
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Translator: Genta Tenri M, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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