Antara News, Monday, April 12, 2010 20:50 WIB
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian and US navies have agreed to increase cooperation in maritime security in Asia Pacific.
It was learned here on Monday following a closed-door meeting between Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Agus Suhartono and the commander of the US 7th Fleet Command, Vice Admiral John M Bird.
"During the meeting, which was meant for a courtesy call, the two also discussed their commitment to increasing maritime cooperation in the region," the Indonesian Navy`s spokesman, Col Herry Setianegara, told ANTARA News.
He said the US Navy`s Seventh Fleet commander`s visit was also meant for deeping the relationship between the two countries` navies that had developed so far.
From its headquarters in Yokosuka, Japan, the US 7th Fleet routinely sailed up to 52 million square miles of a stretch from "International Date Line" to the African Eastern Coast and from the Kuril Islands in the North to Antartics in the South to safeguard US interests.
The commander of the US Fleet holds three main authorities namely being the commander of a joint task force in dealing with natural disasters or military operations, the commander of naval operations in the territory under his jurisdiction which is his daily assignment and a defense commander.
In every meeting with his colleagues in the countries he visited the Fleet commander had always emphasized the importance of cooperation between the US and countries in Asia Pacific including Indonesia.
In connection with it, the US 7th Fleet routinely conducts joint military exercises with a number of Asia Pacific countries such as the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise with Indonesia and the Bilateral Sea Readiness and Training exercise with Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia.
