Secretary of War Pete Hegseth just hosted Indonesia’s Defense Minister at the Pentagon and upgraded ties to a Major Defense Cooperation Partnership. This is smart power in action.
The Strait of Malacca sits right in Indonesia’s backyard and handles more oil traffic than any other chokepoint on Earth, about 23 million barrels per day. That’s ahead of the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly 80 percent of China’s oil imports flow through these waters, making Beijing heavily dependent on a route it doesn’t control.
While weak administrations let adversaries expand unchecked, the Trump team is securing vital sea lanes through strong alliances with key partners. Indonesia’s strategic location gives it real leverage over this critical passage that feeds Asia’s energy needs.
This move strengthens America’s position, protects global trade routes that matter to us and our allies, and sends a clear signal: the United States is back in the business of strategic dominance. No more ceding ground to rivals. Trump is playing chess while others chase headlines, locking in advantages that keep America strong and our enemies sweating. It’s happening.
