Defence Minister Sjafrie Hosts Finnish and South Korean Envoys for Strategic Talks

Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin received diplomatic visits from the ambassadors of Finland and South Korea at the Ministry of Defence office in Jakarta on Tuesday. The back-to-back bilateral meetings aimed to accelerate the modernisation of national defence and strengthen military capabilities amid global geopolitical dynamics. The discussions with Finnish Ambassador H.E. Pekka Kaihilahti focused on exploring comprehensive defence cooperation, particularly in the sovereignty and protection of national data, C4ISR technology, satellite communications, Maritime Domain Awareness, surveillance systems, cybersecurity, and maritime defence capability development. In a separate meeting with South Korean Ambassador H.E. Yoon Soon Gu, the two sides discussed concrete steps to strengthen the strategic partnership, including a planned high-level meeting between the foreign and defence ministers of both countries in a 2+2 format. The cooperation with South Korea also covers the acceleration of joint military education and training programmes, a blueprint for developing a more modern air defence system, and the continued push for downstreaming and collaboration in the defence industry to achieve tangible project progress and balanced benefits for both nations.