JAKARTA, Indonesia – Rear Adm. Rick Seif, Commander Submarine Group (CSG) 7/Task Force (CTF) 74 and CTF-74 staff met with Indonesian Navy leaders and U.S. Embassy Jakarta officials for the 6th Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL)/US Navy Submarine Force Staff Talks aboard the Emory S. Land-class submarine USS Frank Cable (AS 40), July 21-22.

Over the two days, CTF-74 and TNI-AL leaders participated in relationship-building events that included staff interviews, office calls, and subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE ) in order to continue to develop the two countries’ combined submarine operations in the Indo-Pacific region.

“I am delighted to be able to visit Jakarta and conduct these submarine staff talks with our Indonesian partners in person once again,” Seif said. “The US-Indonesia partnership has never been stronger or more comprehensive than it is today. Working together during these staff talks allows our two submarine forces to learn from each other, helping us contribute to our common goal of maintaining regional stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Planners for this year’s submarine force staff talks aligned the engagement around the port visit of Frank Cable, whose visit to Indonesia was the first port visit by an asset of the United States Navy’s submarine force in the country. TNI-AL executives toured the submarine tender and were able to see first-hand the unique expeditionary maintenance and submarine logistics capabilities.

During the staff talks, personnel from both countries conducted discussions on the safety of submarine operations. Specific exchanges took place on the US Navy’s submarine safety program (SUBSAFE), submarine maintenance and underwater navigation.

The two days of events culminated with the signing of goals and action points by Seif and the first adm. Indra Agus Wijaya, Submarine Operation Commander, Indonesian Fleet. Both leaders pledged to continue working together on relationship building and interoperability between the two submarine forces.

It was the first time the two navies had held in-person discussions with submarine personnel since 2018. Last year’s event was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Submarine Group 7 leads forward deployed, combat-capable forces across the full spectrum of submarine warfare in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea.

For more information on the Commander of Submarine Group 7, visit www.csp.navy.mil/csg7/.