TNI Readiness Operation in North Sulawesi During ASEAN Summit, Defence Ministry: No Specific Threats
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Ministry of Defence has emphasised that the TNI’s readiness operation in the North Sulawesi region on Friday (8/5/2026), during the ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, is not being conducted due to any threats.
“There are no specific threats or particular conflict situations,” stressed Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, Head of the Defence Information Bureau at the Ministry of Defence, when contacted by Kompas.com on Friday (8/5/2026).
According to Rico, this readiness operation is a standard anticipatory measure commonly taken to secure high-level international agendas.
“At the same time, it is part of the TNI’s efforts to maintain regional stability and support VIP security,” he said.
The activity involves land, sea, and air branches to test combined operational readiness, from troop mobility and VIP protection to responses to emergency situations in the area.
“There are five F-16 aircraft, Hercules, and A400M for this readiness operation. (Then) three KRI (types) Brawijaya, Siliwangi, and RE Martadinata,” he revealed.
He stated that this readiness is a routine TNI activity to anticipate various possible situations during international agendas in the ASEAN region.
“Indonesia views regional stability and security as a shared responsibility of ASEAN countries,” he said.
It was previously reported that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto attended a series of events at the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, on Friday (8/5/2026), riding in a domestically produced Maung vehicle.
Observations from the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube showed Prabowo once again riding in the Maung vehicle when attending the ASEAN Summit retreat session this afternoon.
Upon disembarking from the vehicle, the Head of State immediately entered the retreat session venue.
At this moment, Prabowo even gave a thumbs-up to one of the ASEAN leaders in attendance.
As the event began, the ASEAN leaders started with a group photo session.
After the group photo session ended, the Indonesian President had a brief chat with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
The two appeared to converse amicably with each other.