Jakarta - Indonesia and the United States are to step up their military ties and resume collaboration programs broken off in the past, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said here Wednesday.

"Certain collaboration programs suspended in the past, including one involving our Special Forces (Kopassus), are to be resumed. They have given signal to that effect," Purnomo said after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a meeting with the visiting chief of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Robert S Williard, at the presidential office.

Williard came to Jakarta to introduce himself as the new US Pacific Command chief since four months ago. In this position, Williard has to maintain coordinative relations with 38 countries, including Indonesia.

"The US Pacific fleet has just returned from a military exercise in Thailand. After arriving here Williard made courtesy calls on the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander, me, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, and today on the President," Purnomo said.

At a press conference after the call on President Yudhoyono, Williard said the meeting proceeded in a good and constructive atmosphere.

"I have been in my present position for only four months and this is my first visit to Indonesia as Pacific Command chief. We discussed our bilateral military relations," he said.

Asked about security in the Malacca Strait, he said the US was ready to help the littoral states guard the strategic waterway.

"The Malacca Strait is of strategic value and must be protected against any terrorist or other threats. We will welcome cooperation with the countries around the strait to ensure its security," he said.

Meanwhile, the president's foreign affairs spokesman, Dino Patti Djalal, said at his meeting with Williard, Yudhoyono expressed pleasure that there was progress in RI-US military relations and hoped they would be further improved. Indonesia-US bilateral relations had so far been very good and there would soon be a comprehensive partnership agreement.

President Yudhoyono received Admiral Williard at his Office at around 11:00 am, accompanied by Political, Legal and Security Affairs Coordinating Minister Djoko Suyanto, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa and Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro (source : ANTARA).