Jordan, Indonesia leaders vow to boost military cooperation

Jordan's king and Indonesia’s leader on Friday held talks as the two longtime friends agreed to strengthen military cooperation and economic ties between the two Muslim-majority nations.

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King Abdullah II and President Prabowo Subianto share a longstanding 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 self-exile in Jordan amid allegations of his involvement in the 1998 abductions of political activists during the dark days of Indonesia's military rule.

Despite his stateless status at the time, he was welcomed by then King Hussein, Abdullah's father. Subianto lived in Amman for several years before returning home in 2008.

Abdullah'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 to Asian nations that includes Japan, Vietnam, Singapore and Pakistan.

Abdullah received a warm welcome in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, with his royal plane escorted by two fighter jets.

He was welcomed on the tarmac by Subianto at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base.