JAKARTA, The Kabar News—Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin convened senior military, intelligence and police officials in Jakarta to coordinate Indonesia’s response to emerging national security and defense challenges.

Sjafrie chaired the National Defense Council (DPN) meeting in his capacity as the council’s executive chairman at the Defense Ministry on Monday, Nov. 2. The meeting sought to align government agencies. This comes as changes in the regional and global security environment affect Indonesia’s strategic interests.

The meeting brought together the head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), the Indonesian military (TNI) commander, and the National Police (Polri) chief. The Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs of staff also attended, along with Indonesia’s two deputy defense ministers.

In a statement published Tuesday, the Defense Ministry said stronger coordination would help agencies align their policies and improve operational readiness.

The ministry did not identify the specific threats discussed or announce any new military deployment, procurement decision or security operation. Its statement described the meeting as a strategic coordination forum intended to strengthen national stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

DPN serves as a cross-government body that advises the president and formulates strategic defense-policy recommendations. It does not replace the command authority of the military, police or intelligence agencies.

Indonesia formally established the council through Presidential Regulation No. 202/2024. This came more than two decades after Article 15 of Law No. 3/2002 on National Defense mandated its creation.

President Prabowo Subianto chairs the council. The government appointed Sjafrie as its executive chairman. They also appointed then-deputy defense minister Donny Ermawan Taufanto as its secretary under Presidential Decree No. 87/M/2024. Prabowo sworn in both officials on Dec. 16, 2024, according to the Presidential Secretariat.

At the council’s inaugural session in February 2025, Prabowo said its establishment implemented a long-standing statutory requirement. The council’s institutional structure includes units focusing on geostrategy, geopolitics and geoeconomics, according to Defense Ministry regulations.

That structure allows policymakers to assess security questions beyond conventional military threats. Economic resilience, technological change and competition over strategic resources can also influence national defense planning.

The Nov. 2 meeting stressed the government’s effort to place senior security officials within a common policy forum. However, the limited public statement did not disclose whether participants approved recommendations for submission to Prabowo.

The DPN’s effectiveness will therefore depend on how clearly it translates interagency discussions into policy. Agencies must define their responsibilities carefully to prevent overlapping authority while protecting parliamentary oversight and civilian control of national defense.