We have heard about AUKUS. Many ships from the Pacific will pass from and to Darwin, Australia. We need authentic data on that. Therefore, Indonesia is pursuing collaboration to collect the data.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian and Australian navies will conduct a joint survey in the southern Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters in September this year.

"In September, we will carry out a joint survey with the Australian Navy in the southern waters of our EEZ," the Commander of the Indonesian Navy's (AL's) Hydro-Oceanography Center (Pushidrosal), Vice Admiral Nurhidayat, ssid.

He made te statement at the opening of the 2023 TNI Western Conference Sports Week (Porwilbar) at Trisila Field, Naval Headquarters, Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Monday.

According to him, Australia is interested in the joint survey since it considers the southern part of Indonesia's ZEE important, especially the Arafuru Sea region.Therefore, Australia understands Indonesia's need for collecting the latest data on the area.

Earlier, in September 2021, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States agreed to form a new defense pact called AUKUS, an acronym of the troika.

Since 2021, AUKUS has built cooperation in a number of sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), cyberwarfare, underwater defense capabilities, and long-range attack capabilities.

"We have heard about AUKUS. Many ships from the Pacific will pass from and to Darwin, Australia. We need authentic data on that. Therefore, Indonesia is pursuing collaboration to collect the data," Nurhidayat informed.

He said that the joint survey will put Indonesia and ASEAN in the crosshairs of military forces and the world's powerful economies.

The formation of the trilateral defense pact AUKUS and the strengthening of China's dominance requires ASEAN countries to act wisely in order to protect the Indo-Pacific region.

Nurhidayat disclosed that the Indonesian Navy is also conducting a joint survey with the French Navy in Sabang waters, Aceh. French Navy survey vessel Beautemps Beaupre arrived at the Sabang Terminal 3 General Container Pier about two weeks ago to join the survey.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Navy has deployed the Republic of Indonesia Warship (KRI) Spica-934 for the survey.

"In the western part, we already collaborate with French and in the south, we will work with Australia," Nurhidayat said.

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Translator: Narda Margaretha S, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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