The Defense Policy of Indonesia
According to Article 1 of Law Number 3 of 2002 on National Defense, “the state defense system is a universal defense system that involves all citizens, territories, and other national resources, and is prepared early by the government and carried out in a total, integrated, directed, and continuous manner to uphold state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of the entire nation from all threats.” The Total People’s Defense and Security System (Sishankamrata), mandated by Article 30 of the 1945 Constitution and reaffirmed in the implementing regulations of the Presidential Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 7 of 2008 concerning the General Policy of National Defense, reads as follows in its implementation:
“Sishankamrata is both a doctrine and a national defense plan that employs all forces and the capabilities of both military and non-military components in a complete and integrated way.”
Following Prabowo’s appointment as Indonesia’s defense minister, the theory of national defense was advocated both nationally and internationally. The coordination and collaboration required to fulfill Indonesia’s robust defense is highly obvious throughout the procurement of Indonesian defense equipment.
According to the Draft State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (RAPBN) 2022, the allocation in the defense sector is Rp. 133 Trillion, which is higher than the predicted state budget in 2021, which was Rp. 118, 2 Trillion. Although there are pluses and minuses to this value, the performance of the minister of defense is obvious in the realization of a better Indonesian defense force.
This is consistent with the declaration made by Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo in 2019 during a hearing with DPR RI Committee X at the DPR building, Senayan, which said that the Indonesian defense and state security (Hankamneg) posture is defensive.
In support of this assertion, the term “defensive” refers to a national defense system that prefers to protect rather than attack. However, defensive-offensive tactics may be used based on the demands of each country in order to construct a defense plan that is also tailored to the difficulties at hand. Surviving entails preparing all parts of Indonesia’s defense as well as possible, including planning and creating defense tactics and training using both people and natural resources, as well as competent technology. Setting an attitude toward the defensive defense strategy outlined by Defense Minister Prabowo is what motivates Indonesia to continue to strengthen its defense capabilities.
Developing Indonesia’s Defense Strategy in the Globalization Era
In his book “Sharing the Waves Towards a Maritime State,” Rear Admiral TNI (Ret.) Ir. Darmawan, M.M stated that a government’s political resolve to achieve the World Maritime Axis undoubtedly generates optimism and strong confidence as a momentum for Indonesia’s maritime awakening. However, according to his book, Indonesia has yet to be labeled a maritime country since it has not been able to establish sea power as the primary foundation for the framework of strengthening the world’s economy and politics.
Although the notion of a marine state has existed throughout Indonesian history, the presidents before to Jokowi did not have the resources to make it a reality. Only later in Jokowi’s presidency did he push the strategic vision and purpose, one of which was to establish Indonesia as a world naval power. Not just as talk, but also in accordance with Prabowo’s appointment, the state defense budget was increased in comparison to earlier years.
According to information obtained from numerous Indonesian media outlets on December 31, 2021, the Ministry of Defense’s line of defense equipment for the Army, Navy, and Air Force consists of:
Missile Fast Ship (KCR) is a warship built by the Indonesian defense company PT PAL Indonesia (Persero) to bolster the combat feet of the Indonesian Navy.
Tank Carrier Ships made up of AT-8 and AT-9 Tank Carriers. The two tankers can transport 367 personnel, 15 BMP-3F tanks, and one helicopter.
The Indonesian Army got a Bell 412EPI Assault Helicopter manufactured by PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI).
How all of the funding allocation is achieved has yet to be discovered. Considering that funding in each ministry are meant for human resource development and training, as well as other expenditures.
Technological growth is not just something that is continually being updated nowadays, but it has been done by military strategists for a long time. To sustain its security and defense, Indonesia continues to innovate, both in terms of policy and the primary armament system, which is constantly improved by Defense Minister Prabowo.
According to Ilias Iliopoulos PhD, Professor at the Hellenic Staff College. “Obviously, Sea Power Is About Naval Forces – And Coastguards, Marine or Civil-Maritime Industries, And, Where Relevant, Land And Air Force Contributions.” Still, it is more than that; it is about geography, geopolitics, geostrategic planning, geoeconomics, and geoculture; it is about a state’s ability to determine or influence events, currents, and developments both at sea and on land.
It can be shown that a country can be regarded to have power if its sea power is involved. These ideologies are already well-known among modern international leaders. According to Alfred Thayer Mahan, the father of marine specialists, in his book “The Influence of Sea Power Upon History,” the factors of sea power are geographical position, physical conformation, extent of territory, population, national character, and government character.
All of these aspects are already possessed by Indonesia; it is only the advancement of technology that requires us to balance them with technical skills. This is also cited by Lieutenant General John Cushman, USA (Ret.), who uses the comparison “Know your stuff; be a man; and look after your men.” That is, humans are armed in land conflicts, while humans equip weapons in naval combat missions.
Indonesia has a geographical position that is directly adjacent to Indonesian waters, namely Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Palau, and Timor Leste. Given that the world maritime concept is not an easy mission, Indonesia’s strategic path has been to repair and purchase an armaments worth approximately 133 trillion rupiah, for the purpose of building the country’s defense forces, including in the maritime sector.
Meanwhile, Jokowi highlighted how to create Indonesia as the world’s maritime axis by referring to the seven development pillars outlined in Presidential Decree No. 16 of 2017 as a Government Policy Regarding the World Maritime Axis, namely:
1. Management of marine resources and human resource development
2. Defence, security, law enforcement, and maritime safety
3. Institutions and marine governance
4. Improvement of the marine economy, infrastructure, and welfare
5. Management of maritime space and conservation of the marine environment
6. Maritime Culture
7. Maritime Diplomacy
So, in order to promote the Indonesian government’s development pillars, all government agencies must work together in accordance with Good Government principles. The supremacy of Indonesia’s geographical location, as defined in its physical shape and territory, cannot be maximized without the ability of good Human Resources who have national values and are backed by a variety of sufficient defensive equipment.