Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD invited Australia to increase cooperation commitment in maintaining maritime security.
Mahfud conveyed this during a maritime security discussion session at the 9th Australian-Indonesian Ministry Council Meeting (MCM) in Melbourne, Australia on Tuesday, March 14.
"The area of sea waters in addition to providing benefits, also presents threats, disturbances, obstacles, and challenges, including various transnational crimes that take advantage of sea routes, illegal exploitation of natural resources, and the activities of parties that pose a threat to sovereignty and maritime security," Mahfud said based on a press statement, Wednesday, March 15, was confiscated by Antara.
Mahfud said Indonesia pays attention to the two main issues of domestic and regional maritime security challenges.
First, the movement of people who are irregular or irregular movement of people who take advantage of Indonesian waters, especially the wave of Rohingya refugees entering Indonesia by sea in 2022-2023.
This was discussed in the 8th Bali Process Ministry Conference in Adelaide, Australia, February 2023 which said the wave was a form of the second movement with indications of smuggling people.
Second, irregular, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities (IUU Fishing). These activities are considered to threaten the sustainability of marine and fishery resources and reduce the income of coastal fishermen whose livelihoods depend heavily on marine wealth.
The activity of IUU Fishing is believed to be very closely related and is controlled by many transnational or transnational crime syndicates.
"I appreciate the agreement between Indonesia and Australia to increase maritime security cooperation, especially in efforts to maintain and create security stability in the region," said Mahfud, who led the Indonesian delegation at the meeting.
Indonesia-Australia has had various bilateral cooperations, both through dialogue, education, training, and joint exercises related to maritime security issues by utilizing various mechanisms both bilaterally, regionally, and multilaterally.
Mahfud expressed his support for the continuation of concrete cooperation between ministries and government institutions (K/L) of the two countries in the maritime sector.
"Not only under the coordination of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency, but between the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the Indonesian National Armed Forces Navy, and other maritime sectors related ministries/agencies with their respective counterparts (partners, ed.) in Australia," he said.
Mahfud emphasized the importance of joint commitment between the two countries in fighting IUU Fishing according to the agreement of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Action Plan 2020-2024.
Mahfud appreciated Australia's support for Indonesia as a joint leader for discussing the issue of irregular movement of people in the context of Rohingya refugees at the Bali Process Forum.
Mahfud emphasized that Indonesia is committed and hopes that Australia will continue to support the principle of burden-sharing and shared responsibility or sharing shared burdens and shared responsibility as well as the need for close cooperation between countries of origin, transit, and destinations of irregular migration.
During the meeting, the Australian Delegation Led by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cybersecurity Minister Clare O'Neil.
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