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Building a Southwest Pacific regional organization
Indonesia’s maritime border in the Arafura Sea has emerged to become a maritime “hotspot” of criminal activities.
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A patrol vessel of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry moors at a fishing port in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) in this file photo. (JP/Djemi Amnifu)
I
ndonesia’s multilateral relationships encompass almost all corners of its maritime boundaries. To its west, bordering the Indian Ocean, Indonesia is an active member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
Together with India, Australia and other Indian Ocean Littoral States, this 23-state multilateral organization plays an active role in bridging the various interests of states spanning from Oceania and Asia into Africa.
In addition to the IORA, although not a member itself, Indonesia is also an active partner of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). Indonesia places great importance on ensuring strong relationships with states within the Bay of Bengal sub-region, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Indonesia’s priority in ASEAN has also helped the country maintain a working relationship on its northern and northeastern maritime boundaries. This is also augmented by the inclusion of the trilateral cooperation among Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines in patrolling and safeguarding the Sulu and Sulawesi seas from various security threats.
Although it would seem that Indonesia has secured much of its maritime boundaries, it still possesses a certain Achilles Heel in one particular area. Indonesia’s maritime border in the Arafura Sea has emerged to become a maritime “hotspot” for criminal activities. The body of water, which forms part of the Southwest Pacific subregion, has seen an increase in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, smuggling and maritime slavery. Indonesia’s efforts to mitigate such criminal activities within the region have been tenuous.
Both the Indonesian Navy and Coast Guard (Bakamla) have limited assets to be deployed. Moreover, provinces around the Arafura Sea are some of the most undeveloped in the country. The cost of maintaining active patrols and other operations in the Arafura Sea is substantially higher than running operations in the western part of the country.
Relationships with the neighboring littoral states have so far borne limited success. Both Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have the desire to manage the various security issues in the Arafura Sea, and to an extent the Timor Sea. However, both countries are beset by underdeveloped security apparatuses, as well as budgetary constraints.
