Indonesia-Japan defense ties expand with forest fire response

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said Japan’s assistance in tackling Indonesia’s forest and land fires represents a concrete implementation of bilateral defense cooperation.

Speaking during a working meeting with Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta on Monday, Sjafrie emphasized that Japan’s emergency response assistance demonstrates how mutual defense commitments extend beyond traditional military exercises to include humanitarian disaster relief.

“Defense cooperation means that when a friend is in trouble, they return the favor,” Sjafrie said, according to a statement issued by the Defense Ministry.

He explained that the assistance directly implements the Indonesia-Japan Defense Cooperation Arrangement (DCA), particularly within the framework of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).

Through the agreement, the two countries continue to strengthen coordination in disaster response, emergency logistics, and the strategic deployment of transport assets during natural disasters.

As part of the disaster assistance package, Japan is dispatching three CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters to support aerial firefighting and water-bombing operations in affected provinces.

A Japanese advance team has already arrived in Indonesia to coordinate logistics and field deployment with personnel from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the national Forest and Land Fire Task Force.

Sjafrie added that the operation reflects the broadening scope of Indonesia-Japan defense ties beyond traditional security cooperation, expressing optimism that the joint effort would significantly strengthen firefighting capabilities on the ground.