Minister Of Home Affairs Tito Highlights The Strategic Role Of Non-State Actors In Global Security Stability

JAKARTA - The Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, conveyed the importance of understanding and establishing effective collaboration with non-state actors in facing transnational security challenges.

This was conveyed during a speech at the global security-themed international forum held in Doha, Qatar.

"Indonesia views non-state actors as entities that play a significant role in the current security landscape."

"They are divided into two categories: hostile non-state actors which are threats to stability and friendly non-state actors who can become strategic partners in maintaining peace and security," said Minister of Home Affairs Tito in his presentation quoted Thursday, May 1, 2025.

Tito also explained Indonesia's experience in dealing with violent extremist groups that have international links, such as Jemaah Islamiyah affiliated with Al-Qaeda and Jamaah Ansharut Daulah related to ISIS.

Indonesia has also faced prolonged armed conflict with separatist groups, such as the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Free Papua Organization (OPM).

In addition, the Minister of Home Affairs also highlighted various transnational crime challenges involving collaboration between domestic and foreign non-state actors, such as drug smuggling, human trafficking, cybercrime, and illegal exploitation of natural resources.

These activities not only disrupt national security stability, but also hinder the country's economic growth.

On the other hand, Tito emphasized that many friendly non-state actors are actually important partners in peace efforts and counter-radicalization.

He cited the success of the peaceful process in Aceh as a concrete example, which was mediated by the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) led by the then President of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari, and mediator Juha Christensen, who later joined the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Center.

In handling terrorism, Indonesia was also greatly helped by cooperation with study institutions, such as the International Crisis Group led by Sidney Jones and Rajaratnam School of International Studies from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.

These institutions have provided in-depth research-based analysis of terrorism networks, including interviews with key figures in them.

Based on this experience, the Minister of Home Affairs conveyed two main recommendations. First, strengthening cooperation between countries, not only at the strategic level, but also operational between security forces.

Furthermore, the second involves friendly non-state actors, such as NGOs, think tanks, and other civil communities in prevention and threat management strategies from hostile non-state actors.

"This forum is a real example of how collaboration between countries, study institutions and international organizations such as The Soufan Center can strengthen cross-border cooperation in facing global threats," said Tito.

Not to forget, the Minister of Home Affairs expressed his appreciation to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurahman Al Thani, Minister of Home Affairs Qatar Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, as well as to Ali Soufan of The Soufan Center, for organizing a forum which is an important event for exchanging views and strengthening international networks.

The 2025 Global Security Forum (GSF) is an annual international security forum taking place in Doha, Qatar, on April 28, 2025.

The annual forum, which was first held in 2018, is a strategic event for world leaders and security experts to discuss global issues, including terrorism, cybercrime, and conflict mediation.

This year, GSF highlighted the increasingly dominant role of non-state actors in threatening state stability and sovereignty.