Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto met Prince Khalid bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday to discuss the potential for cooperation between the defense industry and education.

During their meeting, Subianto and Prince Khalid, who is also Saudi Deputy Defense Minister, discussed efforts to enhance military and defense cooperation as well as global and regional issues related to the interests of the two countries.

The meeting was part of the agenda of Subianto’s working visit to Saudi Arabia, which included attending the events of the IISS (International Institute for Strategic Studies) Riyadh 2022 and the World Defense Show 2022 in Riyadh.

During the meeting, the prince warmly welcomed Subianto and they had breakfast, accompanied by the commander of the Saudi armed forces.

Subianto and Prince Khalid also enjoyed Saudi coffee while exchanging defense ideas.

So far, defense cooperation between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia is well established, Subianto noted.

Defense cooperation was further enhanced by the signing of the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on January 23, 2014, in Jakarta, which was ratified in 2018, he mentioned.

Meanwhile, in the area of ​​defense education, the two countries’ ministries are already running the commissioned officer exchange program under the education and training collaboration, he said. he adds.

From 2014 to 2022, Indonesia also sent 178 people to take courses in Saudi Arabia such as the military college and the enlightenment course on countering extremism.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has sent two officers to the Indonesian Army Command and Staff College and requested additional seats for each force.

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