Japan adds Indonesia to ‘network of navies’ after Australia, Philippines

AI Summary

Japan has added Indonesia to its expanding 'network of navies' alongside Australia and the Philippines, aiming to boost maritime security across critical sea lanes including the Malacca and Lombok straits. This collaboration intends to enhance Indonesia's naval subsurface awareness to monitor and counter underwater activities in these strategic waterways.

Indonesia sits at the confluence of the world’s busiest sea lanes. Its coastline stretches nearly 55,000km (34,000 miles) and its waters encompass the Malacca and Lombok straits, chokepoints through which trillions of US dollars in global trade pass annually. Yet for years the nation’s navy has lacked the subsurface awareness to monitor, let alone counter, what moves beneath the waves. Japan intends to change that. Tokyo confirmed on June 5 that the two countries had agreed to begin formal talks...