INDONESIA –
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus completed a partnership-building visit to Indonesia on March 24.
Mabus was in the area to meet with senior military and civilian officials to discuss bilateral and multilateral maritime security issues and efforts.
Meetings were held with Indonesia's minister of maritime affairs and fisheries, the head of the Indonesian Bureau of Search and Rescue and Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy, Adm. Ade Supandi.
Mabus and Supandi discussed, among other topics, the importance of maritime domain awareness and opportunities for future cooperation in areas such as humanitarian assistance/disaster relief operations.
"We welcome Indonesia's focus on the maritime environment and intent to become a 'global maritime axis,'" said Mabus. "We look forward to discussing ways in which we can collaborate in the future and enhance the partnership between our two nations."
Mabus also visited the U.S. embassy in Jakarta where he met with members of the Marine Security Guard stationed there.
Mabus' stop in Jakarta is part of a multi-nation visit to the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility focused on reinforcing existing partnerships and visiting Sailors and Marines forward deployed.