JAKARTA: Indonesia’s parliament on Tuesday (July 21) ratified separate defence cooperation agreements with Malaysia and Turkiye, paving the way for closer collaboration in defence technology, joint military training and regional security.
The House of Representatives (DPR RI) approved the two ratification bills during Tuesday’s plenary sitting after Speaker Puan Maharani (pic) sought lawmakers’ consent for them to be enacted into law.
Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas said legislative ratification was required to ensure the agreements complied with international law and the domestic laws of each country.
"The international defence agreements need to be ratified … to provide legal certainty in the implementation of cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit,” he said.
Supratman said the agreement with Malaysia was signed in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 9, 2022, while the agreement with Turkiye was signed in Bali on Nov 14 of the same year.
Meanwhile, Commission I deputy chairman Anton Sukartono Suratto said the parliamentary panel, which oversees defence, foreign affairs, intelligence and communications, unanimously endorsed both agreements following deliberations with the government on July 1.
He said the agreements were strategically important for strengthening geopolitical stability, facilitating defence technology transfers and enhancing military personnel capabilities.
Anton said their effective implementation would require consistent parliamentary oversight and adequate funding, particularly for comprehensive joint training programmes. - Bernama
