Indonesia and ICRC hold expert discussion on environmental protection in armed conflicts at sea

Expert discussion held by Indonesia together with the ICRC. (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of RI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia together with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Regional Delegation for Indonesia and Timor-Leste held an Expert Discussion within the framework of the Naval Warfare Workstream of the Global Initiative to Galvanise Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law (Global IHL Initiative) in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The discussion, which was held for two days, August 5-6, was 24 national and international experts to exchange views on the protection of the natural environment in armed conflicts at sea.

Important issues discussed include the impact of naval warfare on the marine environment, the law of naval warfare and its interaction with other branches of law, as well as practical steps that states can take in planning and conducting naval operations, including after the end of hostilities, for example through mine clearance and pollution control.

In his keynote speech, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Ambassador Arif Havas Oegroseno emphasized the importance of the discussion, especially for island countries like Indonesia.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Havas emphasized that the legal framework governing the sea remains in force during armed conflicts and highlighted that naval operations can cause serious and long-term cross-border damage to the marine environment, thus directly affecting coastal communities, quoted from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thursday (6/8).

Expert discussion held by Indonesia together with the ICRC. (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of RI)

Given that Indonesia cannot restrict navigation through its archipelago waterways, compliance with the obligation to give due regard to the marine environment is becoming increasingly important.

Meanwhile, in his capacity as co-chair of the Naval Warfare Workstream and as Chairman of the Expert Discussion, the Director General of International Law and Treaties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Ambassador Ricky Suhendar, emphasized Indonesia's special importance as an island country to ensure that armed conflicts at sea do not reduce the rights of neutral countries, coastal countries, and island countries. as well as weakening the legal regime governing navigation rights and maritime zones.

He also highlighted the need for clearer technical guidelines regarding the treatment of dual-use infrastructure, including submarine cables and ports, as well as the need to strengthen the protection of the marine environment that supports the lives of coastal communities and Indonesia's maritime economy.

He further emphasized that these efforts must be in line with UNCLOS 1982, international humanitarian law, and relevant international conventions in the field of the environment.

Meanwhile, the Head of the ICRC Regional Delegation for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Martin De Boer, in turn, said that naval warfare should not be seen as a conflict area far from everyday life.

He emphasized that the ocean is an essential element for global food security, digital connectivity, and marine ecosystems that support civil society life and the sustainability of the planet.

In line with efforts to revive global political support for international humanitarian law by leaders of countries around the world, Indonesia and the ICRC hope that the technical discussions in this Naval Warfare Workstream can produce concrete, practical, and actionable recommendations, which can be implemented by parties to armed conflicts as well as by countries in general, to strengthen respect for international law in armed conflict situations at sea, protect humanity, and mitigate the adverse impact of armed conflict at sea on humanitarian and environmental aspects.

This Expert Discussion is the second activity held in Jakarta, after the previous discussion on international humanitarian law, maritime warfare law, and the application of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in wartime which was held on 6-7 May 2025.

This discussion also complements various activities and consultations at the state and expert levels that are currently taking place within the framework of the Global IHL Initiative, especially the Naval Warfare Workstream jointly chaired by the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Indonesia.