US defense deputy Elbridge Colby due in Jakarta next week
Colby is set to meet the President, defense minister and foreign minister as Washington expands defense ties in the Indo-Pacific.
US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby is scheduled to visit Jakarta next week as part of a tour of Southeast Asia. The US Embassy in Jakarta said Colby and US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security John Noh will depart on 7 August and stop in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia to meet counterparts and senior government officials. In Jakarta, Colby is set to meet President Prabowo Subianto, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Foreign Minister Sugiono. The visit comes as Washington pushes to strengthen defense ties in the Indo-Pacific. Earlier, Noh met Sjafrie in February and discussed deepening the defense partnership and preparations for the Super Garuda Shield 2026 joint exercise.