TNI Commander Will Perform Military Diplomacy to ASEAN

TNI Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo together with Head of BIN Sutiyoso, at the State Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (8/7).

TNI Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo who had just inaugurated by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), at the State Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (8/7), said that he would continue what has been done by General Moeldoko in support Nawacita (9 priority programs) of the President, who will realize Indonesia as the pivot of world maritime.

“Indonesia as the pivot of world maritime, should develop, strengthen Indonesian Navy, Indonesian Air Force, because the entire archipelago should be monitored and secured, and in case of emergency matters we will sooner react,” said Gatot told reporters in State Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (8/7) afternoon.

To realize Nawacita President, the TNI Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo said, the number of ships should added, submarines, and aircraft, radar  has to cover everything.

Gen. Gatot added that he would also conduct military diplomacy with ASEAN countries, so that ASEAN could be an example of how their armed forces work together well. “Then realizing regional situation conducive, so the economy will run,” he said.

Regarding military exercises among ASEAN countries, Gatot said the exercises which done during this time is the exercise between countries. Therefore, General Gatot would suggest that the exercise carried out jointly between the ASEAN countries, together, where soldiers lowest to highest are always interacting.

Regarding the main weaponry system (Alutsista), TNI Commander explained that President Jokowi, already decided, alutsista, especially for the Indonesian Air Force should the new. “Therefore I will chair the meeting, and then whatever the alutsista plan ahead, just adjust the existing budgets,” he explained. (DND/DKP/ES)