Indonesia-Singapore Cooperation

BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN

President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong walk into the bilateral meeting room, Tuesday (25/1/2022). In the Leaders' Retreat, several agreements were signed..

A country cannot choose its neighbor, because geographical position is "destiny" -- it must be accepted as it is.

All a country can do is to choose how it behaves toward its neighbor, whether in a friendly or hostile manner.

This challenge is the one faced by Singapore and Indonesia. Whether they want it or not -- like it or not, the two coexist.

Since the 1960s, relations between the two countries have experienced extreme dynamics. At one point, the two of them had an argument. After that, relations improved; Indonesia and Singapore together with three other Southeast Asian countries even founded ASEAN. This organization has proven capable of being a catalyst for creating peaceful conditions in the region and developing itself to consist of 10 countries. Economic growth and prosperity have been created thanks to the peace and spirit of cooperation that has emerged among ASEAN members.

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In the midst of challenges in the region and changing times, the Indonesian House of Representatives agreed to pass the Indonesia-Singapore Defense Cooperation Bill into law on Tuesday (6/12/2022). The bill is a follow-up to the cooperation agreed upon by the two countries at their leaders' meeting at the Leader's Retreat in Bintan, Riau Islands, on 25 January.

Efforts to ratify the defense cooperation have actually been made since 2007. However, the forces opposing it in the House at that time were far greater than those who agreed. One point that has received attention is the possibility that Singapore will freely use Indonesian territory for military exercises.

KOMPAS/ ANGGER PUTRANTO

Members of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF/) took part in a joint exercise with the Indonesian Army entitled Safkar Indopura 2018 in Situbondo, East Java, Monday (11/19/2018). Joint exercises between Indonesia and Singapore have been running for 30 years.

Because of this, after the approval of the House on Tuesday, there has been an insistence that the implementation and elaboration of defense cooperation be maintained as well as possible. On the one hand, we understand that neighboring Singapore needs an area where its military members can train. On the other hand, Indonesia needs close cooperation in organizing military exercises, which absorb a lot of resources. This cooperation can also touch on aspects of the development of personnel and equipment owned by Indonesia.

The cooperation that is built must be truly mutually beneficial. In addition, a close relationship between Singapore and Indonesia in the defense sector should be able to contribute to signaling that Southeast Asian countries fully support one another. This is important considering that the dynamics of competition between large countries is also felt in Southeast Asia.

It is worth noting that the day earlier, the Indonesia-Singapore fugitive extradition bill was approved for ratification as law at level I by Commission III of the House.

After a while, we all want all this cooperation to bring prosperity to the people of both countries. No one can be harmed. Only in this way can relations between countries continue to grow and become stronger.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.