VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto on Monday met with Vice President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Kris Peeters to discuss efforts to intensify defense and security cooperation between Indonesia and the European Union (EU).

Ambassador of the European Union to Indonesia Vincent Piket accompanied Peeters to the meeting, which was held at the Defense Ministry building here on Monday.

The meeting discussed the need to increase bilateral cooperation, particularly in defense and security, such as counter-terrorism, maritime security, and peacekeeping operations.

Indonesia and the European Union have a long history and commitment in the fields of peace and stability.

“The European Union is a major partner of Indonesia in creating peace and in facing regional conflicts,” Subianto said in a statement.

During the meeting, the Indonesian minister was accompanied by Secretary General of the Defense Ministry Air Marshal Donny Ermawan Taufanto; Inspector General of the Defense Ministry Major General Budi Prijono; and Head of the ministry's Defense Facility Board Vice Marshal Yusuf Jauhari.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the lending arm of the European Union. It is the biggest multilateral financial institution in the world and one of the largest providers of climate finance.

Since its establishment in 1958, the bank has invested over a trillion euros. It works closely with other EU institutions to foster European integration, promote the development of the EU, and support EU policies in over 160 countries around the world.  (Antaranews)