Retired General TNI Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s Minister of Defense and the 8th elected President, conducted a working visit to four ASEAN member countries from September 5 to 7, 2024: Brunei Darussalam, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia.

This visit holds profound strategic significance, reflecting Indonesia’s concrete steps to bolster defense cooperation in the region and affirm its role as a regional leader.

By strengthening bilateral ties through direct meetings and dialogues, Indonesia aims to optimize cooperation in various security areas, including military training, intelligence exchange, and joint exercises and operations.

Simultaneously, Indonesia seeks to enhance defense ties with neighboring countries and balance power dynamics in a region facing various challenges, including tensions in the South China Sea and the influence of major powers such as the United States and China.

By maintaining good relations and close cooperation with ASEAN countries, Indonesia hopes to create a more conducive and coordinated security environment.

Strategic goals of bilateral strengthening

Furthermore, General TNI (Ret.) Prabowo Subianto’s working visit to ASEAN countries is not merely diplomatic meetings but also reflects deep strategic steps for Indonesia’s national interests and ASEAN regional stability.

With various strategic goals, this visit marks Indonesia’s significant efforts to strengthen defense cooperation at the regional level, address complex security dynamics, and assert its role as a regional leader.

By enhancing cooperation in these aspects, Indonesia aims not only to enhance its own defense capabilities but also to strengthen a broader regional security network, ultimately contributing to ASEAN’s stability and security.

In addition to bilateral strengthening, this visit also aims to support Indonesia’s strategy in addressing evolving security dynamics in the region.

Regional tensions, such as conflicts in the South China Sea, and the influence of major powers like the United States and China add complexity to the regional security situation.

Thus, Prabowo Subianto’s visit is part of Indonesia’s efforts to balance power in the region, maintain stability, and effectively manage tensions.

By coordinating and cooperating with neighboring countries, Indonesia hopes to strengthen its strategic position and help create a more coordinated and stable security environment.

As a country with significant influence in the region, Indonesia has a responsibility to promote stability and encourage cooperation among ASEAN countries.

This visit is a tangible manifestation of that role, aimed at ensuring that Indonesia remains actively involved in maintaining regional security and stability.

Strengthening defense partnerships

Prabowo Subianto’s working visit to ASEAN countries, including Brunei Darussalam, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia, opens strategic opportunities to strengthen defense and security relationships in the region.

Each destination country has specific contexts and needs that could be enhanced through this visit, reflecting the importance of bilateral relationships within the regional security framework.

Brunei Darussalam, a small country with limited armed forces, heavily depends on regional security stability.

In this context, Prabowo Subianto’s visit offers Brunei an opportunity to strengthen security and defense relations with Indonesia.

Support in the form of military training and technical assistance can help Brunei address its defense challenges.

Through this cooperation, Indonesia can assist Brunei in enhancing its military capabilities and contribute to broader regional stability.

On the other hand, Laos is relatively less integrated into regional security alliances.

This visit provides Laos with an opportunity to strengthen cooperation and support in border security and military training.

With Indonesia’s support, Laos can enhance its defense capacity, which in turn can strengthen stability and security in the surrounding region.

This cooperation also paves the way for Laos to become more engaged in regional security alliances, address deficiencies in defense integration, and contribute to collective security.

Cambodia, with diverse bilateral relations with major countries, seeks additional support in defense modernization and regional stability.

Prabowo Subianto’s visit provides an opportunity for Cambodia to discuss security issues and explore further cooperation potential with Indonesia.

Support in defense modernization and regional stability offered by Indonesia can help Cambodia address internal and external challenges and enhance its ability to play an active role in regional security.

Malaysia, as a close neighbor with relatively strong armed forces, is an important strategic partner for Indonesia in the defense context.

This visit can strengthen cooperation in joint military exercises and regional threat management.

Closer collaboration with Malaysia allows Indonesia and Malaysia to address threats simultaneously and more effectively, as well as enhance defense integration in the region.

This cooperation not only strengthens bilateral relations but also enhances regional security overall.

Enhancing regional stability

By strengthening security relations between Indonesia and neighboring countries, it is hoped that positive contributions to broader regional stability can be achieved.

Deeper cooperation in security areas has the potential to help address various challenges, such as terrorism, cross-border crime, and regional tensions.

Through better coordination and joint operations, ASEAN countries can enhance their capabilities in addressing cross-border threats and strengthen regional security overall.

Clearly, Prabowo Subianto’s visit focuses not only on regional stability but also reflects Indonesia’s broader defense strategy.

By taking an active role in regional security, Indonesia demonstrates its commitment to strengthening alliances and partnerships in ASEAN.

This step is in line with Indonesia’s efforts to strengthen its strategic position in ASEAN and in international relations in general.

As a country with significant influence, Indonesia strives to strengthen its position in the global context by enhancing bilateral and multilateral relations that support regional stability and security.

Indonesia is committed to playing a central role in defense diplomacy and regional cooperation.

However, it is important to consider this visit in the context of Indonesia’s relations with other major powers and the broader global geopolitical dynamics.

Closer defense partnerships at the ASEAN level can influence the foreign policies and strategies of major powers operating in the region.

This visit may attract the attention of major powers such as the United States and China, which have strategic interests in Southeast Asia.

The enhancement of defense cooperation in ASEAN could impact the foreign policies of these major powers, motivating them to adjust their strategies in an increasingly dynamic region.

Prof. Dr. Drs, Ermaya ­Suradinata, SH, MH, MS, adalah Mantan ­Direktur ­Jenderal, Sosial ­Politik ­Lementerian Dalam ­Negeri RI dan Gubernur ­Lemhannas RI (2001-2005).