Contents of the Indonesia-Japan Defence Cooperation Agreement: Personnel Exchanges to Joint Exercises

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence has revealed the contents of the cooperation agreement signed by Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Japanese Defence Minister Koizumi Shinjiro on Monday (5/5/2026).

Head of the Defence Information Bureau of the Ministry of Defence, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, stated that the Defence Cooperation Arrangement (DCA) between Indonesia and Japan serves as a framework to strengthen comprehensive and mutually beneficial defence cooperation between the two countries.

“This DCA covers various fields, including enhancing personnel exchanges, education and research, joint exercises, maritime security cooperation, and cooperation in disaster management,” Rico told Kompas.com on Tuesday (5/5/2026).

Its development will be carried out gradually through dialogues and technical studies, in accordance with the needs and interests of each country, based on principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit.

“Regarding defence equipment issues (in the cooperation), the two countries are currently at the discussion stage at the Working Group level, particularly within the framework of technology cooperation and capability enhancement, including those supporting maritime capabilities,” he explained.

Therefore, there is no specific agreement yet on particular procurements.

According to Rico, all potential cooperation will still adhere to constitutional mandates, national interests, and contributions to regional stability.

Previously reported, Shinjiro arrived in Indonesia with his delegation via VIP Terminal 3 at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, on Sunday (3/5/2026).

The following day, they travelled from Bali to Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, East Jakarta, using a grey-coloured Boeing aircraft owned by the Indonesian Air Force.

That afternoon, Sjafrie and Shinjiro signed the defence cooperation agreement.

Shinjiro described the cooperative relationship with Indonesia as developing very quickly and openly.

“Not many partners establish communication as close and as open as this in such a short period,” Shinjiro said at the Indonesian Ministry of Defence office in Central Jakarta on Monday (4/5/2026).

He even assessed that not many of Japan’s partners have this level of communication intensity in such a short time.