Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia's Ministry of Defense said it is assisting the United States in locating the remains of World War II soldiers in Indonesia.The assistance is based on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the ministry and the US military in Washington, DC, on Monday.”This is a form of humanitarian and historical cooperation for the research, search, recovery, identification, and repatriation of the remains of United States military personnel from World War II,” said Rico Ricardo Sirait, the ministry's spokesperson, in a statement on Tuesday.He said the MoU with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) was signed by Major General Agus Widodo and DPAA Director Kelly K. McKeague, in the presence of Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.Sirait said the cooperation reflects a commitment to honoring fallen soldiers and allows for the repatriation of remains to their families in the United States.However, he emphasized that the agreement does not automatically grant the United States authority to enter Indonesian territory.”The cooperation is carried out only with written approval from the government of the Republic of Indonesia through the Ministry of Defense and must fully comply with Indonesian laws and regulations,” he said.He added that the activities must not disrupt the interests of local communities and must protect the environment and historical values, while providing social, academic, and economic benefits.Sirait expressed hope the agreement would further strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and the United States.