Navy's role requires modernization

By Bantarto Bandoro

JAKARTA (JP): Several days after Abdurrahman Wahid was elected Indonesia's new President, he indicated that the sea has played an important role in the country's history. His statement should be seen within the context of geographical configurations here, in which the sea constitutes an important part of national defense. In the past, the sea dimension of Indonesia's national defense was not given appropriate attention and has never been translated into the country's strategic policy, despite the fact that Indonesia is one of the world's largest maritime nations.

"Bring back the supremacy of the sea" is perhaps the message Abdurrahman wished to convey when he announced the establishment of a ministry dealing with maritime exploration. This implies that as a great maritime nation, Indonesia should have a strong and effective Navy and Air Force, perhaps stronger than the Army.

Abdurrahman may have predicted that the 21st century would be the "naval century", an era in which naval and maritime power become an even more critical element of national power and prestige.

His emphasis on the importance of the sea is so significant that the Navy should initiate measures to implement his statement and revitalize the role of the naval force in facing future challenges. Abdurrahman's maritime policy should also stimulate innovative thinking on the part of the Naval Staff and Command College to develop studies on the new role and preparedness of Indonesia's naval force in meeting future demands. The studies should reflect the desire to sustain the operation of the naval force in a broad environment and should be directed to building naval forces capable of protecting national interests into the 21st century. In short, future readiness requires investment today. Both the Navy and Marine Corps should, as a team, plan increases in procurement, research and development.

A great task is placed upon the Navy and its staff and command college. The Navy cannot ignore this task because regional and domestic security is still subject to uncertainty and vulnerability; the national security environment in which the naval forces will play a key part is likely to change much more rapidly than the naval forces can change themselves. Therefore, from the start, the Navy must incorporate a great deal of adaptability. The Navy's form and mode of operation and its capability will certainly be driven in the large part by rapidly advancing technology. The naval force will have to be on the alert for significant technological changes and be ready to exploit new technologies expeditiously.

While the President is not a navy man, and while his decision to appoint an admiral as military chief can be interpreted as giving the Navy an appropriate role in national defense; the demand for a complete transformation of the naval forces is there. Studies which explore the future environment of the naval force are needed, including studies on how technology can be applied in restructuring the naval forces to better meet the challenges of that environment.

A successful performance by the Navy would require the replacement of aging and obsolete weapons and platforms, if any. Equipment designed and procured one or two decades ago must be replaced or substantially modernized to ensure continued usefulness. The Navy must also recapitalize and modernize to meet demands of tomorrow's threats and operational concepts.

The Navy and Marine Corps will increasingly be operating and cooperating with components of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Maritime Exploration and those of the National Police, the Air Force and the Army in charge of specific tasks related to maritime security.

Abdurrahman's statement implies that the Navy's plans and programs must reflect the nation's commitment to: (1) enhance security with effective diplomacy; (2) bolster prosperity; (3) promote better understanding of "property rights" at sea; (4) shape regional environment; and (5) to respond to the full spectrum of crises.

In Southeast Asia at least, Indonesia has been and will still be regarded as a country which has at its disposal the capabilities to maintain regional peace and security. Indonesia's naval force environment in the region will continue to be characterized by instability and conflict arising from resources and boundary disputes and trends in maritime law enforcement, criminal activities at sea, illegal migration by sea and terrorism.

The naval force development program would then have to be designed to enable the force to face future regional security challenges and threats amid fiscal constraints in a manner far more efficient and effective than today's naval forces.

Therefore, a strong and responsive naval force is imperative for national defense, regional stability and security, to meet unexpected and hostile regional trends.

The President's maritime policy provides very strong grounds for the Navy to develop new platforms, plans and program which will effectively facilitate progress toward its goals. The time has come for the Navy to assert itself as the most important pillar of national defense. But one must remember that implementing naval force capabilities will certainly require a stable and sustained research and development program.

The Navy must put a great deal of effort into building its image of not only being assigned to exploit the sea as space for maneuvering, but also as an agent of development. Its programs, plans, concepts and ideas can be pursued within the overall framework of Indonesian foreign and defense policy.

The new government's maritime policy has given the Navy new life and spirit to leap into the next century, though it will need proper funding to support defense and military strategies. However, transforming for the future and meeting today's national and regional commitments must be balanced. The President's maritime policy should be appraised by all, especially the Navy.

The writer is with the Centre for Strategic International Studies' Department of International Affairs and a guest lecturer at the Naval Staff and Command College, Jakarta.