France’s Naval Group recently announced that Indonesia had signed a contract to purchase two Scorpene submarines, which a lithium-ion battery system will power in a deal valued at around $2 billion. The most interesting part to me is that both submarines will be built in Indonesia by state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL at its facility in … Read more
Indonesia’s military says that it has arrested 13 soldiers after the emergence of a video showing the torture of a man believed to be a member of a Papuan separatist group. The video, which has been doing the rounds on social media since last month, shows men kicking, beating, and dunking a man in a … Read more
In the tumultuous years of the early 1980s, a young Indonesian military officer took part in a series of combat operations in East Timor, then under Indonesian occupation. During one military campaign in September 1983, several hundred East Timorese were killed by Indonesian troops in an incident known to history as the Kraras Massacre. As … Read more
In the wake of the recent presidential election in Indonesia, a pivotal question looms large: Will the next leader usher in a new age of military influence in civilian life? The contest, held on February 14, saw three candidates vying for the nation’s highest office: former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, and … Read more
On February 14, nearly 200 million people are expected to vote in Indonesia’s presidential election. Considering that Indonesia is the world’s third-largest democracy, fourth-largest nation by population, and largest Muslim-majority nation, this is a significant affair. While Indonesia has arguably punched below its weight in terms of shaping the region’s maritime interactions in recent years, … Read more
Continuing on from my previous analysis of the foreign policy orientation of Indonesian presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo, this article will examine where Prabowo Subianto stands on these issues. Prabowo, Indonesia’s current minister of defense, is running for the presidency for the third time, after falling short against President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in 2014 and 2019. … Read more
With Indonesia’s 2024 presidential election on the horizon, the three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates have become increasingly active in promoting their visions for Indonesia’s development, including in the defense sector. In general, all candidates share the same view that the government should significantly modernize the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), strengthen border … Read more
Advertisement Imagine this scenario: an Indonesian company is drilling for oil within its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, when the platform is suddenly swarmed by Chinese navy and coast guard vessels. Not far away, there is a U.S. Navy ship, perhaps on a routine patrol through contested waters. What does the Indonesian … Read more
Advertisement Indonesia’s progress on major defense acquisitions under Minister of Defense and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto has continued apace in recent weeks. A long-gestating deal for Indonesia to buy 24 F-15 fighter jets moved one step closer to completion in August, as Prabowo flew to the United States and inked a Memorandum of Understanding with … Read more
Advertisement Indonesia will today kick off its largest-ever annual joint military drills with the United States and a host of other countries, at time of rising tension in Southeast Asian waters. The 2023 Super Garuda Shield exercise, which will take place until September 13 in Surabaya and Banyuwangi, East Java, will involve 1,900 Indonesian military … Read more