President: Continue Transforming Defense

BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN

President Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma\'ruf Amin inspect the TNI\'s defense equipment exhibition displayed around the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (5/10/2021), after the TNI\'s 76th anniversary ceremony.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that defense transformation needs to continue so that the Indonesian Military (TNI) becomes a national defense force that plays a strategic role on the regional and global stages. Transformation is increasingly important in the midst of the wider spectrum of state defense and security threats.

Speaking in his speech at the commemoration of the 76th anniversary of the TNI at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday (5/10/2021), President Jokowi reminded the TNI that it should always maintain its readiness.

The President said that the spectrum of current threats was very wide. These include violations of sovereignty, the theft of natural resources, radicalism, cyber threats, biological threats and the threat of natural disasters.

Also read:

> Maintaining TNI’s Image

> Prepare TNI Commanders for Modern War

"In order to face the wide spectrum of threats, the transformation of defense must continue to lay the foundation for the formation of modern defense capabilities that are relevant to the development of military technology," the President said.

Transformation is needed to enable the TNI to become a defense force for Indonesia that plays a role on the regional and global strategic stages. The main foundation of the defense transformation is a TNI that is united with the people in a universal defense and security system of the people. The transformation should be accompanied by the utilization of military technology and planned defense investment.

Defense modernization also needs to be accompanied by breakthroughs, economic management and defense investment. "We must shift from a defense-spending policy to a long-term defense investment, which is systematically designed and carried out consistently and sustainably," the President added.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Indonesian Air Force fighter planes perform aerial demonstrations with the "Arrow Head" formation during a ceremony to commemorate the 76th Anniversary of the TNI at the Merdeka Palace, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (5/10/2021).

TNI professionalism

According to the commander of the TNI, Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, the loyalty of TNI personnel in the face of increasingly complex threats is manifested by the task of controlling and guarding the borders, frontier islands, forests and mountains, oceans, and the vast expanse of space, as well as the provision of isolation and treatment rooms for people who are exposed to Covid-19.

"Continue to increase your professionalism and unity with the people, unite, fight, we will definitely win for Indonesia to be strong, an Indonesia that is growing," he said.

Also read:

> Military Academies Adapt to Zoomers

> The Urgency of Defense

Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Puan Maharani emphasized the importance of the strengthening of technology in anticipating nonconventional conflicts, such as cyber warfare. "We are grateful that currently many TNI cadets are from Gen Z [born after the late 1990s], who have advantages in the field of technology. Changes in this era must be adjusted to the pattern of work and development within the TNI," said Puan.

Chairman of DPR Commission I Utut Adianto said all factions were committed to supporting the strengthening of the TNI. Support is provided through the DPR\'s budget policy, which has approved the RAPBN (State Budget Plan) for 2022 from the government.

Meanwhile, Lab 45 researcher Andi Widjajanto said that the key to this defense transformation was economic governance to achieve independence in the defense sector. A commitment is needed to strengthen the defense industry, namely implementing the Defense Industry Law, which requires that every procurement for the primary weapon system is accompanied by the mechanism of offset, counter-purchase and technology transfers. ( INA/ SYA/ NIA/ EDN)

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.