Ministry of Defence Proposes Rp 195 Trillion Budget Increase

The Ministry of Defence has submitted a budget requirement of up to Rp 667 trillion for 2027, vastly exceeding the indicative ceiling of just Rp 139 trillion. This significant gap has prompted a request for additional funding through the House of Representatives (DPR). Minister of Defence Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin stated that the Ministry, together with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), had formulated the Rp 667 trillion requirement based on priorities and the dynamic nature of defence duties. “Therefore, in 2027 we are proposing a budget requirement plan of Rp 667 trillion,” Sjafrie said following a closed-door meeting with Commission I of the DPR on Wednesday, 10 June 2026. He noted the meeting discussed the Work Plan and Budget (RKA) and the Government Work Plan (RKP) for the Ministry of Defence/TNI for 2027, stressing that defence budget needs are dynamic and tend to increase in line with the demands of safeguarding state sovereignty. However, the indicative ceiling set by the government is only Rp 139 trillion. “We must follow the directives issued by Bappenas and the Ministry of Finance,” Sjafrie remarked. Facing this disparity, the Ministry of Defence is proposing an additional budget of Rp 195 trillion via Commission I of the DPR to be forwarded to the Budget Committee. Sjafrie reasoned the extra funds are necessary to maintain sovereignty and support TNI duties, including military operations other than war such as infrastructure development and disaster management. “The national defence system is the safety belt for the continuity of national development,” he said. Chair of Commission I of the DPR, Utut Adianto, stated his commission supports the supplementary proposal for further discussion in the Budget Committee. He highlighted that the 2027 indicative ceiling is actually lower than the 2026 budget of Rp 187 trillion. “Commission I approves and supports the additional proposal to be forwarded to the Budget Committee,” Utut said.