Indonesia and Singapore Explore Joint Military Training Area Development in Sumatra, Kalimantan

The Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of Singapore are exploring the development of military training areas in two locations in Sumatra—Batujajar, South Sumatra, and Siabu, Riau—as well as in West Kalimantan. The development of training areas for joint exercises between the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) was one of the issues discussed by President Prabowo Subianto and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during their Leaders’ Retreat at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday. “Under the auspices of the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA), the SAF and TNI are exploring the development of training facilities in Baturaja, West Kalimantan, and at the Siabu Air Weapons Range (AWR),” PM Wong said during a joint press statement following the meeting at the Merdeka Palace. PM Wong added that the initiative would open mutually beneficial opportunities for the armed forces of both countries, particularly for training together and strengthening defence cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore. For both Singapore and Indonesia, PM Wong continued, the close relationship between the TNI and SAF is a crucial area. He therefore expressed gratitude that since his tenure as defence minister, President Prabowo has contributed to strengthening cooperation between the TNI and SAF. During this year’s Indonesia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat, the two countries also announced the signing of a cooperation document concerning a joint update to the bilateral defence cooperation agreement. The cooperation document was then presented before President Prabowo and PM Wong by Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin alongside Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing. In recent years, Singapore Armed Forces personnel have regularly participated in multinational training programmes and bilateral Indonesia-Singapore exercises held at the Baturaja Combat Training Centre. Additionally, the Indonesian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy regularly conduct joint exercises in the border waters of the Malacca Strait.