US Under Secretary of Defense Affirms Indonesia’s Sovereignty Right

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The United States underscored its respect for Indonesia’s sovereign choices as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge A. Colby stated Washington is ready to work with Jakarta in safeguarding territorial integrity.

“We deeply respect that and want to cooperate with countries like Indonesia based on their own perspectives on how to protect sovereignty,” Colby said during an online media briefing monitored in Jakarta on Thursday, August 13, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Colby emphasized that U.S. strategy in the region focuses on maintaining a balance of power through military strength and active diplomacy. He argued that strong ties with Washington can benefit regional nations by enhancing their ability to defend sovereignty.

“There are objectives we seek to achieve in maintaining that balance of power, but we have no intention of weakening or undermining Indonesia’s sovereignty. On the contrary, we want to strengthen it,” he noted.

He added that similar approaches apply to Thailand and the Philippines, and extend to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore, stressing that cooperation must rest on mutual benefit.

Colby highlighted that America’s primary interest is to see regional nations grow stronger and capable of defending their sovereignty and territorial integrity, with the U.S. serving as a partner in sustaining regional balance.

He further argued that a robust U.S. presence aligns with regional interests, as without active American involvement, equilibrium in power would not be achieved. “We hope to see the continuation of a peaceful balance of power, which in turn will drive further economic growth across the region,” Colby said.

On August 11, Colby met Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, followed by talks with President Prabowo Subianto the next day in Jakarta. The meeting with Minister Sjafrie included discussions on bilateral relations and the implementation of programs under the Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (MDCP), established on April 13, 2026. ***