June 2, 2026 | 03:27 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin received an official visit from the Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdurrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.Sjafrie stated that the visit was a reciprocal activity following the bilateral meeting that took place in Qatar on April 12 last year. During this visit, a defense cooperation agreement will be signed between the two countries."The cooperation relates to the military, education, training, defense industry, and other fields," Sjafrie said at the Ministry of Defense office in Jakarta on Tuesday.Separately, the Head of the Public Information Bureau of the Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General Rico Sirait, stated that one of the key agendas during the meeting was the signing of a statement of intent as a follow-up to the letter of intent signed in 2021.He continued that Sjafrie and the Qatari Defense Minister also signed an MoU between Qatar's defense firm Barzan Holding and the domestic industry through the Defense Logistics Division, or Kabaloghan."We consider Indonesia's relationship with Qatar to hold significant strategic value," Rico said.According to him, the signing of this cooperation agreement is a concrete step to strengthen defense relations between the two countries to be more structured, mutually beneficial, and implemented through more tangible programs.Rico added that at the conclusion of the event, Defense Minister Sjafrie also awarded the Dharma Defense Medal to Sheikh Saoud bin Abdurrahman. The Dharma Defense Medal is bestowed as an appreciation for Qatar's contribution and commitment to strengthening bilateral defense cooperation."The award reflects Qatar's role as a strategic partner in the Middle East, spanning defense, diplomacy, and support for international peace and stability," Rico said.Based on Tempo's observations, the reception for Sheikh Saoud bin Abdurrahman's visit began with a military ceremony held by TNI soldiers at the Ministry of Defense courtyard.The meeting lasted for about 90 minutes, concluding with Sheikh Saoud bin Abdurrahman being escorted out by the Women's Military Police Corps from three TNI branches, namely the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.Read: Prabowo Receives Qatari Defense Minister at Merdeka PalaceClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
