Indonesia and Japan Explore Deeper Military Collaboration

8 hours ago 2

April 25, 2025 | 06:18 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin welcomed General Yoshida Yoshihide, the Chief of Staff of Japan's Joint Self-Defense Forces, for discussions on Friday, April 25, 2025, at his office in central Jakarta. The central focus of their meeting was exploring efforts to deepen military cooperation.

Frega Wenas, the Head of the Public Relations Bureau of the Defense Ministry's Secretariat General, conveyed that both nations hoped for stronger collaborative ties extending beyond high-level engagements to encompass personnel exchanges and interpersonal connections.

"Earlier, discussions touched upon the shared understanding that peace is paramount at this time," Frega said in a press briefing following the meeting.

The closed-door meeting lasted for nearly an hour. Deputy Defense Minister Donny Ermawan Taufanto welcomed General Yoshida upon his arrival and bid him farewell. According to Frega, Minister Sjafrie and General Yoshida also explored potential cooperation in the domains of space and cyber security.

"There is an opportunity to develop and maintain interoperability between our militaries within the framework of military and defense cooperation," he explained.

The Indonesian and Japanese governments will further pursue the outcomes of this meeting at the high-level committee level, which will include the chiefs of staff. This follow-up aims to define the technical details of the potential cooperation that was discussed.

Earlier in the day, General Yoshida visited the Indonesian Military (TNI) Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta. Following a welcoming ceremony, the TNI Commander engaged in a cordial conversation with General Yoshida regarding the advancement of military cooperation and joint exercises planned for 2025.

The Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) is slated to participate in TNI exercises such as Super Garuda Shield 2025. The TNI Commander highlighted the JSDF's extensive experience in humanitarian assistance operations and natural disaster mitigation.

"I sincerely hope that personnel from the TNI and JSDF can engage in communication to discuss potential collaboration in the fields of humanitarian assistance and natural disaster management in the future," he stated, as quoted by the TNI Information Center.

Editor's Choice: Military Presence on Campuses Threatens Academic Freedom, Activist Says

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

President's Aide Responds to Indonesian Military Retirees' Call to Replace VP Gibran

10 jam lalu

President's Aide Responds to Indonesian Military Retirees' Call to Replace VP Gibran

TNI Retirees Forum demands the replacement of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to the MPR.

Military Presence on Campuses Threatens Academic Freedom, Activist Says

1 hari lalu

Military Presence on Campuses Threatens Academic Freedom, Activist Says

Activist linked the military's presence to student protests against the new TNI Law, suggesting it sees their criticism as a threat.

Indonesian Military, Police to Aid Prabowo's Warehouse Construction Across Villages

1 hari lalu

Indonesian Military, Police to Aid Prabowo's Warehouse Construction Across Villages

Prabowo Subianto plans to build warehouses and cold storage in every village as a medium-term anticipatory measure to store agricultural products.

Intimidation for Opponents of the TNI Law Revision

2 hari lalu

Intimidation for Opponents of the TNI Law Revision

There are indications that the military intimidates people opposed to the revised TNI Law. Opposition movements continue to appear.

Japan Interested in Assisting Indonesia's Housing Development, Official Says

3 hari lalu

Japan Interested in Assisting Indonesia's Housing Development, Official Says

Deputy Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas, Fahri Hamzah, claimed that Japan is keen on being involved in and assisting in the development of homes in Indonesia.

Japan Sees Growing Interests for Indonesian Migrant Workers

3 hari lalu