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Govt to discuss joint Navy exercise with Malaysia, Philippines
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Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu speaks to journalists after a meeting at his office in January. (the jakarta post/Wienda Parwitasari)
I
ndonesia will discuss joint Navy exercises as a concrete follow-up the trilateral maritime security agreement on joint sea patrols with Malaysia and the Philippines in Kuala Lumpur next week, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has said.
Ryamizard is scheduled to depart on Tuesday to meet his Malaysian counterpart Hishammudin Hussein and Philippine counterpart Delfin Lorenzana, where they will further discuss the mechanism of the joint Navy exercises that will precede the implementation of the joint sea patrol, believed to be the way of stepping up security in the regional waters.
"Joint exercises in the regional waters should be conducted to further determine the procedure [of joint sea patrols]. We will coordinate and make a decision [on the mechanism] and if it's in our favor, the three of us will sign it," Ryamizard told journalists on Thursday.
The high-ranking officials will also deliberate possible joint security operations in the regional waters to pursue militant groups who have hijacked and abducted sailors, including the idea of cooperative pursuit operations on land as well, Ryamizard said.
Last month, Jakarta intensified coordination with Manila, where both countries officials discussed the safest route to travel in the regional waters as well as a system to allow naval vessels to enter another nation’s territory. The matters will be further discussed during the meeting, this time also with Malaysia, Ryamizard said.
The implementation of joint patrols will be accelerated, following the abduction of three Indonesian sailors in Malaysian Sabah waters in early July, less than a month since the kidnapping of seven Indonesian ship crew members by Filipino militant groups in southern Philippines waters. (bbn)
