In a significant step toward deeper regional cooperation, Indonesia and Japan have moved to strengthen their defence relationship following Tokyo’s recent decision to ease long-standing restrictions on arms exports.
Defence ministers from both countries — Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Shinjiro Koizumi — met in Jakarta to formalize a defence cooperation agreement. While the full details of the pact have not been publicly disclosed, the move signals a shared commitment to maintaining peace and stability in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
According to Japan’s defence ministry, Koizumi aims to expand collaboration in key areas such as defence equipment and technology. This comes shortly after Japan revised its decades-old policy, now allowing the export of lethal weapons to 17 partner nations with existing defence agreements.
For Indonesia, the agreement aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s broader push to modernize the country’s military. Since taking office in 2024, the former general has prioritized upgrading Indonesia’s ageing defence systems and strengthening international security partnerships.
Following his visit to Indonesia, Koizumi is set to travel to the Philippines, where Japanese forces are participating in joint military exercises alongside the United States. The visit underscores Japan’s growing role in regional defence coordination.
Koizumi emphasized that stronger defence ties with Indonesia would contribute to regional peace, especially amid what he described as an “increasingly complex and tense international situation.” Discussions between the two nations also include maritime security and joint military drills.
Indonesia has recently been active on multiple diplomatic fronts. It signed a defence agreement with the United States, expanded security cooperation with France, and finalized an oil deal with Russia. Despite these moves, Jakarta continues to maintain its long-standing “free and active” foreign policy, avoiding alignment with any single global power.
In 2025, Indonesia joined the BRICS group, which includes major economies like China and Russia. At the same time, President Prabowo has engaged with the United States, including signing a trade agreement with Donald Trump and participating in his proposed “Board of Peace.”
Meanwhile, Indonesia is still weighing a U.S. request for unrestricted military overflight access — a decision that analysts say could influence perceptions of its geopolitical alignment, particularly between Washington and Beijing.
Strategically, Indonesia holds immense importance due to its location along the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s busiest routes for oil and petroleum transport, making its defence partnerships all the more critical on the global stage.
