Indonesian defence policy and the Indonesian armed force

Abstract

Indonesia's strategic location astride the sea and air routes between East Asia and the Middle East and between Australia and Asia enhances its importance in international relations. Conversely, its location on the crossroads of Asia also exposes it to the influence of countries concerned to safeguard freedom of passage and resource supply and has the potential to involve Indonesia in disputes between third parties. Indonesia's military capability examined in the context of its foreign and defence policy and the perceived external threat. Indonesia's current military capability against an external threat is focused against a threat from the north and its capabilities are modest. This results from resource constraints and the need to give priority to internal security. Both factors will remain limitations on the development of Indonesia's conventional military capabilities, primarily air and maritime capabilities, for some time to come. Show more