VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 Strengthening defense and security cooperation with ASEAN countries is imminent in building trust, capability, and diplomacy, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto stated.

Strong cooperation also develops professionalism of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and the defense industry in addition to supporting foreign policies, Subianto stated at the 2022 Defense Ministry leaders' meeting here on Thursday.

At the meeting, he urged the TNI to bolster readiness, professionalism, and security for tackling terrorism, radicalism, separatism, hidden dangers, and natural disasters as well as for executing the work of humanitarian assistance and Indonesia's mission for world peacekeeping.

The minister also called on the Indonesian military to step up preparations in facing the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats.

Indonesia must realize the establishment of TNI units to optimize its missions through military war operations (OMP) and military operations other than war (OMSP), he stressed.

According to Subianto, the country also needs to prepare an independent defense zone in each major island by securing the reserves of food, energy, and water as well as other logistics needs.

"We must strengthen the coastal missile defense system and the coastal surveillance system to control strategic straits based on the sea bed of the Indonesian islands I, II, and III," he remarked.

Moreover, Subianto opined that Indonesia should synergize the defense spatial design, such as the detailed plan of defense space arrangement and national strategic area at the province, district, and city level.

Hence, the minister noted that some evaluations and improvements, such bureaucratic reform, are necessary to conduct across all Ministry of Defense's units and the TNI.

Attendees at the 2022 Defense Ministry leaders' meeting comprised Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander General Andika Perkasa, Army Chief of Staff General Dudung Abdurachman, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Defense Deputy Minister M. Herindra, and some high-ranking commissioned officers of TNI. (Antaranews)