The Chief of the Defence Force, General David Hurley has attended the inaugural High Level Committee meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Admiral Agus Suhartono.
General Hurley and Admiral Suhartono co-chaired the military-to-military discussions in Jakarta this week. The strategic level dialogue focused on the bilateral Defence relationship.
The economic power shift towards the Indo-Pacific region provides Australia and Indonesia with a prime opportunity to build on our existing Defence relationship and strengthen our strategic partnership,” General Hurley said.
“The Defence Chiefs also participated in the 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting with Ministers Carr and Smith and their Indonesian counterparts, Ministers Natalegawa and Purnomo.”
During the three day visit General Hurley addressed the Indonesian Air Force Staff College (SESKO-AU) where he told students single service engagement was at an all time high.
“Our Air Force relationship reached a pinnacle mid last year when Indonesian Sukhoi jets participated in Exercise PITCH BLACK over northern Australia.
“The multilateral fighter exercise was the first time the Sukhoi jets had deployed outside Indonesia,” General Hurley said.
The fighter jets will conduct a joint Exercise ELANG AUSINDO later this year.
In 2012, the Indonesian and Australian Air Forces conducted bilateral maritime transport and surveillance exercises RAJAWALI AUSINDO and ALBATROSS AUSINDO.