Jokowi Asks TNI To Be Prepared For Threats To Marine Sovereignty To Cyber And Biological Threats

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked the National Armed Forces (TNI) to always be ready to face a wider spectrum of threats, ranging from efforts to disrupt Indonesia's maritime sovereignty to other threats including cyber and biological threats.

He made this statement when he gave a mandate at the ceremony to commemorate the 76th Anniversary of the TNI at the Merdeka Palace on Tuesday, October 5.

"I ask for the alertness of the TNI to always be activated in the face of a wider spectrum of threats, such as violations of sovereignty, theft of natural resources at sea, radicalism, terrorism, cyber threats, and biological threats, including the threat of natural disasters," said Jokowi as broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta also said that to face various threats, defense transformation must continue to be carried out as a foundation for the formation of modern defense capabilities that are relevant to the latest developments in military technology.

"So that the TNI can transform into an Indonesian defense force capable of playing a role in the strategic, regional and global environment," said Jokowi.

In addition, Jokowi also mentioned strengthening the strategic culture of TNI officers and soldiers. He asked the TNI to maintain public security in layers and take advantage of military technology leaps and planned defense investments.

"This modernization of defense must also be accompanied by a breakthrough in economic management and defense investment. I reiterate that we must shift from a defense spending policy to a defense investment policy that thinks long term, is designed systematically, and which is carried out consistently and sustainably," he said.

"For this reason, I have ordered that we continue to carry out and innovate the latest technology in our country, to be actively involved in the global defense industry consortium," said Jokowi.