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Head of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), Vice Admiral Irvansyah, at the Indonesian embassy in Washington D.C. on Saturday (March 9, 2024). (ANTARA/HO-Bakamla RI) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Head of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), Vice Admiral Irvansyah, discussed maritime security with officials from the Indonesian embassy in Washington D.C. on Saturday.

Upon his arrival at the embassy, Irvansyah was welcomed by the Charge d'Affaires (CDA) of the Indonesian Embassy to the United States (US), Ida Bagus Made Bimantara, and the Indonesian defense attaché, Air Commodore Edwardus Wisoko Aribowo, along with other staff.

"Bakamla will always work hard in carrying out its duties and obligations to realize the security and safety of the sea, not only for Indonesia, but for every nation, because the sea is the heritage of all mankind," Irvansyah said in a statement released by the agency.

Meanwhile, Bimantara said that the cooperation between Indonesia and the US has been well-established, including in defense and, more specifically, in the field of maritime security.

"Bakamla, as the Indonesian Coast Guard, has partnered with the United States Coast Guard (USCG), and this will be strengthened even more in the future," he informed.

He said that in 2023, President Joko Widodo and US President Joe Biden met and issued a joint statement that covered, among other things, the strengthening of maritime security cooperation.

In addition to visiting the Indonesian embassy in D.C., the head of Bakamla also met with Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Vice Admiral Eugene Black, at the Pentagon.

On that occasion, Black told Irvansyah that aspects of maritime security are becoming increasingly important, not only in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific.

Furthermore, he invited Bakamla to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, which will be held in June 2024 in Hawaii//ANTARA-VOI