"Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines will intensify communication and the exchange of information and intelligence and conduct patrols in their respective waters," Ryacudu said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has proposed the establishment of a joint military post with personnel from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia to ease the mechanism of coordination, information distribution, and intelligence cooperation.
Ryacudu also highlighted the importance of issuing a joint declaration on the implementation of the maritime security maintenance cooperation.
"With the signing of the Framework of Arrangement (FoA) document, which contains the standard operating procedure (SOP) on Trilateral Maritime Patrols on July 14, the three countries can now begin implementing joint maritime patrols," the Indonesian defense minister noted at a meeting with his counterparts from Malaysia and the Philippines in Nusa Dua in Bali on Tuesday.
The bilateral meeting that discussed security measures in the maritime areas of the Sulu Sea was attended by Malaysian Defense Minister Dato Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Philippine Defense Minister Delfin N. Lorenzana.
Ryacudu noted in a written statement that the joint patrols were expected to overcome maritime security threats that had become a cause of mutual concern.
"Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines will intensify communication and the exchange of information and intelligence and conduct patrols in their respective waters," Ryacudu, who is a former chief of the Indonesian Army, emphasized.
The meeting was a follow up to the previous gathering held in Laos on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Forum in May 2016 and the second meeting in the Philippines in June 2016.
The defense ministers exchanged views on maritime security developments that had become a common concern. Ryacudu highlighted the importance of soon implementing the trilateral cooperation in the form of practical and coordinated on-field cooperation.
"The cooperation is useful in facing security threats that had recently begun surfacing in the maritime borders," he pointed out.
On the occasion, the minister explained that emphasis would be laid on offering maritime security guarantee against terror threats, trans-boundary crimes, human trade, refugees, and illegal drug trafficking.
"Efforts to safeguard men and ships need a special protocol," Minister Ryacudu added.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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