Jakarta, Clear Skies Magazine: The Indonesian Ministry of Defence has reaffirmed strengthened defence cooperation with Japan, with a focus on defence industry collaboration, human resource development, and humanitarian assistance, particularly in disaster management.
Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said both countries have agreed to advance substantive cooperation in the defence sector, taking into account their respective national interests.
“We have agreed to promote substantive cooperation in the defence industry and in the development of personnel between Indonesia and Japan,” he said while delivering a joint statement with his Japanese counterpart in Jakarta on Monday.
He emphasized that cooperation in the defence industry with Japan is a strategic move aimed at strengthening Indonesia’s domestic defence capabilities. Japan, known for its advanced defence technologies, particularly in primary weapons systems, is expected to play a key role in facilitating technology and knowledge transfer to enhance Indonesia’s defence industry.
The Indonesian Defence Minister noted that the partnership is expected to contribute significantly to improving domestic production capacity and technical expertise in the sector.
Alongside industrial cooperation, both sides also agreed to expand collaboration in humanitarian missions, with a particular focus on disaster response and management—an area of shared priority for both archipelagic nations.
The discussions are taking place during a closed-door meeting at Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence, which is expected to conclude with the signing of a defence cooperation agreement formalizing the strategic initiatives.
On the Japanese side, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi described the partnership with Indonesia as a strategic step amid rising global security challenges, including tensions in the Middle East.
“These shared core values will make a major contribution to peace and stability, not only for our two countries but also for the region as a whole,” he said.
Koizumi also highlighted the geographical and strategic similarities between Indonesia and Japan as maritime nations, noting that enhanced cooperation in defence and security will contribute to stronger capabilities and deeper bilateral relations going forward.