Initially planned to take place in Indonesia, the 5th Security Policy Dialogue between the European Union (EU) and Indonesia was held virtually on 21 October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dialogue contributes to strengthening EU-Indonesia cooperation on security issues.
During the meeting, the EU and Indonesia discussed a wide range of issues encompassing the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, countering narcotics, peacekeeping, maritime security, cyber security, non-proliferation and disaster management. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the implementation of cooperation activities in 2020, both the EU and Indonesia are still setting their ambitions high in developing and strengthening the partnership in the field of security and defence.
Both parties exchanged assessments and experiences of countering terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation, including prevention aspects. The EU and Indonesia underlined the importance of their cooperation in multilateral platforms, working hand in hand to prevent the spread of violent extremism and terrorism in particular through social media. Both parties are committed to working together to protect the victims of terrorism, especially women and children. They will continue their joint activities such as capacity building and data sharing.
Furthermore, the EU and Indonesia exchanged views on enhancing cooperation on peacekeeping and on security and defence policy. Both parties agreed to develop further their cooperation in training and defense education by sharing knowledge and exchanging academic personnel.
The Dialogue also examined the shared challenges faced by the EU and Indonesia in countering narcotics and discussed ways to strengthen their policy response through comprehensive counter narcotics policies, including rehabilitation. A joint workshop on rehabilitation and the exchange of experience in countering drugs trafficking are planned for 2021. The EU and Indonesia also emphasised the need for the international community to advance stability in cyberspace, including through the application of international law and norms of responsible state behaviour. In line with this, the EU and Indonesia agreed to continue to deepen their cooperation through collaboration between EU and Indonesia related ministries and agencies.
In the area of maritime security, the EU and Indonesia highlighted the importance of cooperation on issues such as Maritime Situational Awareness and of cooperation in regional forums such as the Association of South-East Asian Nation (ASEAN) Regional Forum. Both the EU and Indonesia attach great importance to a successful 10th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Both parties committed to continue to deepen cooperation in bilateral, regional and multilateral platforms. As for countering Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) hazards, the EU and Indonesia welcomed the further development of their cooperation, which proved to be useful also in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially with regard to the resumption of the postponed projects as well as to further pandemic mitigation programmes.
The EU and Indonesia reviewed their monitoring and communication channels as well as contingency planning on disaster management and highlighted their collaboration during the first emergency period of the COVID-19. Both parties have worked together in evacuating their respective citizens and in responding to the emergency. The EU and Indonesia looked forward to future collaboration in the area of consular affairs. Finally, the EU and Indonesia set out a list of future cooperation activities and agreed to hold the next meeting of their Security Dialogue in Brussels.
The meeting was co-chaired by Ms Joanneke Balfoort, Director for Security and Defence Policy at the European External Action Service, and Mr Masni Eriza, Director for American and European Intra and Inter-regional Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia