"The presence of US troops does not mean what many people are worrying about and will not change our blueprint for state defense. Instead, their presence will help strengthen our forces," he said after chairing a meeting of the Committee for Defense Industry Policies (KKIP) at the Defense Ministry here.
Purnomo said the US would deploy its marines in Darwin in stages with the first phase involving 250 marines. "It is the marines that will be committed to organizing joint operation exercises. So they can become our partners in conducting joint operation exercises," he said.
"Neither will the deployment change the minimum essential forces (MEF)," he said.
Earlier, during his visits to a number of Asia-Pacific countries President Barack Obama affirmed the US would reinforce its influence in the region.
For his part, Obama made an agreement with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard to expand military cooperation between the two nations by among others deploying around 2,500 US marines in Darwin.
The planned deployment of US marines in Darwin was also high on the agenda of a bilateral meeting between Obama and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the sidelines of the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali recently.
Presidential spokesman Teuku Faizasyah quoted Obama as telling Yudhoyono at the meeting that the planned presence of US marines in Darwin was within the context of US-Australia bilateral ties.
Asked if the US policy would threaten Indonesian sovereignty and interests, Faizasyah said "It must be seen comprehensively. Indonesia has good cooperation with both the US and Australia in terms of strategic partnership. So under the cooperation, the presence of US military in Australia will not threaten Indonesian sovereignty."
The US is expected to begin its military outreach in Southeast Asia by deploying marines, naval ships and aircraft in northern Australia starting in 2012. The process would be gradually intensified until the US would have a 2,500-strong task force in Darwin by 2016.
(T.R018/S012/HAJM/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
