In their closed-door meeting, Swift abd Agus discussed matters related to defence and military cooperation between Indonesia and the United States.
After meeting with Agus Suhartono, Swift visited the Indonesian National Air Defence Headquarters and the Indonesian Western Fleet Headquarters.
The US 7th Fleet was set up on March 15, 1943 with its operational area covering seas in the West Pacific, Indian Ocean and Arab Gulf or about 11,000 miles from the US Western Coast.
From its headquarters in Yokosuka, Japan, the 7tgh Fleet regularly patrols its operational area to safeguard US interests. The area is 52 million square miles wide stretching from the International Date Line to the African Eastern Coast, and from the northern part of Kuril Island to the western part of the Antarctic.
The 7th Fleet Command has three main authorities, namely, as the joint command of the task force for handling natural disasters and military operations like what it did when tsunami hit Indonesia`s westernmost province of Aceh.
The second is as the operational command of the navy under its authority as its daily duty. In addition, the 7th Fleet is also authorized to act as a defence command.
In every meeting with colleagues of the countries he visited, the 7th Fleet commander underscored the importance of cooperation between the US and countries in Asia and the Pacific including Indonesia and Thailand.
The US 7th Fleet also regularly conducts joint military exercises with a number of countries in Asia and the Pacific, like the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) with the Indonesian Navy.
It also conducts Bilateral SEA readiness and training exercises with Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia, besides "Cobra Gold" joint exercises with Thailand and other countries in Asia and the Pacific.
(SYS/KR-LWA/A014)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
