Indonesia and Papua New Guinea confirm defense cooperation amid regional tensions

JAKARTA – Indonesia on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to strengthening ties with Papua New Guinea at a “historic” meeting in Jayapura that highlighted defense cooperation with the Pacific island nation amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region .

PNG is a “natural” and “crucial partner for Indonesia” in its engagement with the Pacific Islands, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said after her meeting Wednesday with her PNG counterpart Justin Tkatchenko for the fourth Joint Ministerial Commission ( JMC) between Jakarta and Port Moresby. .

At the event, Retno renewed Indonesia’s commitment to working with PNG, highlighting the two countries’ interest in “working together to maintain peace and stability in the Pacific.”

Indonesia and PNG also signed an agreement for bilateral long-term development cooperation, as well as an agreement on training programs for diplomats from Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) countries such as PNG.

Political and defense cooperation were at the center of the Jayapura talks, with Retno and Tkatchenko welcoming the long-awaited implementation of the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

The DCA was signed by the two countries in 2010, but only came into force this year after the PNG Parliament ratified it in late February. Indonesia ratified the pact in 2012.

The agreement aims to strengthen ties between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the PNG Defense Force, including through the exchange of personnel for training, intelligence cooperation and logistical support.

“As two neighboring countries sharing a vast border, this agreement is crucial to strengthen our security amid the geopolitical dynamics in our region,” Retno said on Wednesday.

Tkatchenko, meanwhile, said: “This DCA has been collecting dust on the shelves for over a decade. Now we are going to see an increase in our defense cooperation; to our borders, defense departments and governments, for the security of our people.”

“And that is very, very important for the future,” he noted.

For the first time, the joint ministerial committee meeting was held in Jayapura, a choice of location that both ministers called “historic” because of its significance for the two countries.

Jayapura is the capital of Papua province and the closest town to the Skouw border crossing into PNG, the main border crossing along the 760-kilometre border separating Indonesia and PNG.

The meeting also came amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region, fueled by the rivalry between the United States and China, which has left Southeast Asian and Pacific island states in a precarious situation amid their efforts to remain neutral.

Last year, PNG signed a defense cooperation pact with the US, reportedly allowing US military personnel to move freely within its territory and waters.

And just two weeks ago, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Port Moresby for talks with Tkatchenko, during which the Chinese diplomat said the Pacific islands were not “the backyard of any major countries.”

Indonesia, one of the largest countries in the region, has stepped up its involvement in the Pacific islands in recent years, a move that analysts say is crucial for maintaining regional security and safeguarding the domestic interests of Jakarta.

In addition to inviting members of the MSG and the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) to various international forums, Jakarta has also increased its investments in the region through various projects, including in infrastructure, agriculture and fisheries.

At least four Indonesian projects are planned for PNG this year, Retno said: the modernization of the Port Moresby Hospital, the revitalization of various parts of the public infrastructure, scholarships and diplomatic training programs for PNG diplomats.

“Indonesia attaches great importance to good relations with Pacific countries,” Retno said. “I thank the PNG Government for their steadfast commitment to supporting Indonesia’s involvement in the MSG and PIF.”

Tkatchenko, meanwhile, said: “I would like to reassure Foreign Minister (Retno) about the importance PNG attaches to its bilateral relations with Indonesia. That friendship must be based on trust.”