Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia called for stronger compliance with marine environmental law and clearer guidance on protecting dual-use infrastructure during armed conflict at an international discussion on naval warfare, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
According to the ministry, the discussion was jointly organized with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Regional Delegation for Indonesia and Timor-Leste in Jakarta on Aug. 5-6.
Deputy Foreign Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno said the international legal framework governing the law of the sea remains applicable during armed conflict.
He said naval operations could cause serious and long-term transboundary environmental damage affecting coastal communities.
Havas also stressed the obligation to exercise “due regard” for protecting the marine environment during naval operations.
Indonesia, as an archipelagic state, cannot restrict navigation through its archipelagic sea lanes, making environmental risks during conflict more complex, he said.
Foreign Ministry Director General for Legal Affairs and International Treaties Ricky Suhendar said maritime conflicts should not undermine the rights of neutral, coastal or archipelagic states or international navigation rules.
He also called for clearer technical guidance on treating dual-use infrastructure, including undersea cables and ports, which could become military targets during naval conflict.
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Suhendar stressed the need to strengthen protection of the marine environment, which supports coastal communities and Indonesia’s maritime economy.
He said such efforts should remain consistent with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, international humanitarian law and relevant environmental treaties.
ICRC Regional Delegation for Indonesia head Martin de Boer said naval warfare should not be viewed separately from civilian life.
He said the oceans are essential to global food security, digital connectivity and ecosystems that support civilian populations.
The discussion brought together 24 national and international experts and marked Jakarta’s second meeting under the initiative after a similar event in May 2025.
The event formed part of the Global IHL Initiative’s Naval Warfare Workstream, co-chaired by Indonesia and Egypt.
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Indonesia and the ICRC said they hope the discussions will produce practical recommendations to strengthen respect for international law while reducing the humanitarian and environmental impacts of naval warfare.
Translator: Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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