August 8, 2026 | 05:28 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - U.S. Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby and Assistant Secretary of War for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs John Noh will visit the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia in an effort to strengthen defense ties with Southeast Asian nations.
The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta announced on Saturday that the U.S. delegation departed on Friday, August 7, local time and is scheduled to meet with counterparts and senior government officials during the visit.
"They will meet with their counterparts and other senior officials to advance the Department’s strong bilateral relationships in the region," the statement read, as quoted from Antara.
"This trip reaffirms the Department’s commitment to build a durable peace in the region through strength," it added.
The visit takes place as Washington seeks to bolster its defense and security engagement in the Indo-Pacific, including through the multinational Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2028 military exercise held last June and July.
For Indonesia, the visit follows Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin’s meeting with Noh in Jakarta in February. During that meeting, the two sides discussed deepening the defense partnership and shared strategic priorities to support stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Preparations for the Super Garuda Shield 2026 joint exercise, which involves thousands of personnel from both nations and regional partners, were also among the topics discussed.
During the meeting, Minister Sjafrie also emphasized Indonesia's commitment to international humanitarian missions and global peace through active participation in international task forces.
Read: Prabowo: Indonesia-Thailand Ties Shape Southeast Asia
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