The diplomatic strategy was disclosed by director for mobilizing defense components at the ministry's Defense Strategic Directorate General, Brigadier General Mohamad Nafis, during a focus group discussion here Monday.
Nafis said that the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) from the defense perspective has paved the way for engaging Pacific nations in ADMM Plus.
Therefore, when hosting the ADMM and ADMM Plus in January this year, Indonesia successfully encouraged ASEAN countries to agree on the implementation of AOIP from the defense perspective, he informed.
The collective agreement paved the way for the Pacific nations' participation in activities related to the ADMM and ADMM Plus, such as working groups and joint exercises in the region, Nafis added.
"The implementation of AOIP will enable the ADMM to work with the Pacific nations more closely, and it will help us show that the Pacific nations and their ASEAN counterparts have a good relationship," he said.
The situation would hopefully encourage the Pacific nations to be more favorable to ASEAN, he told the participants of the discussion forum, organized by the Indonesian Defense University (Unhan).
As reported earlier, to advance Indonesia's diplomacy with the Pacific nations, the Defense Ministry initiated a goodwill mission to four countries in the South Pacific region.
As part of the mission, Indonesian warship KRI Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo (WSH) -991 carried out humanitarian visits in the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea.
In Vanuatu, KRI WSH-991 provided health services for the community, including general examinations, such as blood pressure checks, physical checks, and consultations.
It also provided services through the ENT (ear, nose, throat) polyclinic as well as X-rays and CT scans, and dental and oral health checks and treatment.
The warship, which is part of the 2024 Pacific port visit task force, began its 48-day mission on October 9, 2024, and returned to its headquarters in Sorong, Southwest Papua, on November 25.
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Translator: Genta TM, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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