REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has proposed that Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia set up a joint military command post to facilitate coordination and sharing of information and intelligence as well as the need to issue a joint declaration to start implementing a cooperation mechanism for maritime security.
"By signing the Framework of Arrangement (FoA) on July 14, which contains the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Maritime Patrol Trilateral, the three countries can now carry out maritime patrol together," the minister said during a meeting with the defense ministers of Malaysia and the Philippines, in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Tuesday.
The trilateral meeting, which discussed the security measures in the maritime region of the Sulu Sea, was attended by Defense Minister of Malaysia Dato Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Defense Minister of Philippines Delfin N Lorenzana.
Joint patrolling will help address the security issues in the maritime area of common concern, the minister?s statement added.
"Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines will improve communication, exchange of information and intelligence and patrolling in their respective areas," he noted.
The meeting was in continuation of a meeting held in Laos on the sidelines of the Asean Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) in May 2016 and a second meeting in the Philippines in June 2016.
The defense ministers exchanged views on the maritime security situation.
On this occasion, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu emphasized the importance of immediately implementing trilateral cooperation on the ground in a coordinated fashion.
"The cooperation will be useful in dealing with the security challenges faced in the border waters currently," he stressed.
Ryamizard Ryacudu explained that these steps will help in maintaining maritime security and deal with threats such as terrorism, transnational crimes, human trafficking, illegal refugees and drug trafficking.
"Efforts to rescue people and ships require a special protocol," remarked Ryamizard.
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