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  US, Indonesia expand defense cooperation, starting with cyber and space

It’s part of a larger effort across the region where cyber vulnerabilities are “a real point of concern,” a defense official said.

JAKARTA, Indonesia—The U.S. wants to help shore up Indonesia’s military cyber defenses and space capabilities as part of a newly upgraded defense cooperation plan, defense officials announced Thursday.

“As we train with allies and partners, we want to make sure that we're helping them bring their capabilities along as well,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters following the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Defense Ministers meetings. “They won't all be at the same place as we are, obviously, but we can begin to help them understand the value of having capability in these domains, and develop those capabilities.”

Cyber is an area where even a smaller country can be effective and helpful to other allies and partners with limited capabilities, Austin said.

The move is part of a broader effort across the Indo-Pacific—particularly Southeast Asia—where a senior defense official said countries see cyber vulnerabilities as “a real point of concern, including for their critical infrastructure” and the role armed forces play in cyber defense.

“As we look at enhancing our defense relationship, into working on new exercises, closer technological cooperation, that kind of cyber defense is really important,” the official said. “Because we think it's very important if we actually want to move more broadly, the defense relationship into more sensitive areas.”