Indonesia-South Africa Agree To Strengthen The World Defense Industry And Peace Mission

Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. (Instagram @sjafrie.sjamsoeddin)

JAKARTA - Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin emphasized that Indonesia and South Afirka agreed to expand defense cooperation, not only in the military industry, but also in humanitarian missions and world peace. This was conveyed by Sjafrie after meeting the Minister of Defense of South Africa, in Jakarta, Wednesday (22/10).

According to Sjafrie, the cooperation between the two countries began in the early 2000s and was updated from 2023 to 2026. We want to continue and deepen this cooperation, starting from people to people contact to leadership contact. Including developing an annual security dialogue,' he said.

He added that South Africa is an important partner because it has four main dimensions: land, sea, air, and military health. Indonesia, said Sjafrie, is interested in studying their integrated military health system. We want to learn to prevent sensitive diseases in the military environment. In Indonesia we have malaria and tuberculosis, while they have other challenges that we need to understand," he explained.

In the defense industry, collaboration is wide open. Pindad Rheinmetall cooperates in ammunition. Both share the development of the 6times6 and 8times8 sequences, LPD production, as well as interest in N219 (two engines, 19 passengers). On the peace mission, both parties want to collaborate with peacekeeping; Indonesia conveys troop preparations for Gaza. They want to work together in peacekeeping. We convey that Indonesia is preparing peacekeepers for Gaza," he said.

Sjafrie emphasized that all of these initiatives will be discussed in more detail in the working group that was formed together. "This is the result of talks between the two presidents, and we immediately follow up," he said.

The Minister of Defense also revealed plans to test the Indonesian-made unmanned submarine at Fleet II Surabaya next week. "We will be the fourth country in the world to be able to produce unmanned submarines. This is purely the result of national development," he said.

Regarding strategic defense equipment, Sjafrie emphasized all decisions following the President's regulations and directives as the supreme commander. "I can't talk carelessly. What is clear is that we work according to national defense policies," he said.