Jordan’s king and the Indonesian president have held talks on planned peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in Gaza and agreed to strengthen military cooperation and economic ties between the two countries.
King Abdullah II bin al Hussein and President Prabowo Subianto share a long-standing personal relationship as alumni of the US Fort Benning military academy that dates to 1995, when both were still serving as military officers in their respective countries.
Three years later, Subianto sought refuge in Jordan in 1998. Subianto lived in Amman for several years before returning home in 2008.
King Abdullah II’s state visit to Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country and Southeast Asia’s largest economy, was the fourth stop on his tour of Asian nations that includes Japan, Vietnam, Singapore and Pakistan.
Gaza
Indonesia's Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said Jakarta has trained up to 20,000 troops to take on health- and construction-related tasks during a planned peacekeeping operation in the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza, tormented by Israeli genocide.
"We've prepared a maximum of 20,000 troops, but the specifications will revolve around health and construction," Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told reporters.
"We are waiting for further decisions on the Gaza peace action."
President Subianto and King Abdullah II would discuss the initiative of US President Donald Trump, he added.
"We're waiting for the possibilities of a role Indonesia can take in peace efforts."
New opportunities
“I am proud and honoured to be here, proud and honoured to call you my old friend,” King Abdullah II said.
“I know that in the discussions that we’re having tonight and tomorrow, there are many new opportunities to strengthen the bond between Indonesia and Jordan.”
Sjamsoeddin told reporters after separate talks with Jordan's armed forces chief, Yousef Ahmed Al-Hunaity, that Subianto and King Abdullah II also oversaw the signing of several agreements, including intelligence sharing on Gaza.
Sjamsoeddin said that Jordan is significantly important in assisting with Indonesia's humanitarian operation for Gaza because Indonesia, which has long been a staunch supporter of Palestinians, doesn't have formal diplomatic relations with Israel.
King Abdullah II will travel to Pakistan on Saturday to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
