WASHINGTON, April 14 -- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday a "major" defence partnership with Indonesia following a meeting with the Southeast Asian nation's defence minister at the Pentagon.

"We are elevating our relationship to a Major Defense Cooperation Partnership, in recognition of the strength and potential of our bilateral defense ties," Hegseth said in a statement on X.

The partnership covers "military modernization and capacity building," "training and professional military education" and "exercises and operational cooperation," according to a joint statement.

"Both nations reaffirm their shared commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific," the statement said.

Jakarta said the partnershi...