Indonesia and Singapore are planning to launch military training facilities at three sites in Sumatra and Kalimantan, expanding warfighter preparatory efforts under their long-standing bilateral defense agreement.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong revealed the initiative during their annual Leaders’ Retreat in Jakarta, under which the proposed sites will include Baturaja in South Sumatra, Bengkayang in West Kalimantan, and the Siabu Air Weapons Range in Riau.
The leaders also discussed expanding military cooperation at Batujajar in West Java.
Wong noted the projects would create more opportunities for the Indonesian National Armed Forces and the Singapore Armed Forces to rehearse strategies collectively and reinforce broader military ties.
“These initiatives will provide even more mutually beneficial opportunities for us to train together and deepen our long-standing defence relations,” The Independent Singapore quoted Wong as saying.
The retreat also produced 26 agreements, including a Joint Update on Defense Cooperation signed by Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Singaporean counterpart Chan Chun Sing.
The announcement follows the completion of an annual bilateral exercise between the Southeast Asian countries in early July, where Singapore Army commandos and Indonesia’s Kopassus special forces conducted joint drills, including close-quarters combat, airborne operations, fast-roping, and rappelling.
Brig. Gen. Wong Shi Ming, chief of staff – general staff of the Singapore Army, said the event reflected the “strong and growing relationship” between the two forces, adding that “the true strength of this partnership lies in the friendships and trust built between our soldiers.”
