U.S.-INDONESIA SECURITY DIALOGUES

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001860 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, PM USPACOM FOR J5 SECDEF OSD/ISA/AP NSC FOR D WALTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ID SUBJECT: U.S.-INDONESIA SECURITY DIALOGUES REF: STATE 112900 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: The United States and Indonesia hold an annual Strategic Dialogue and biannual Bilateral Defense Discussions. These discussions are productive, and Mission seeks to augment them under the proposed U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership by adding an annual set of strategic consultations, potentially led by the Under Secretary for Political Affairs, and a separate set of policy planning talks. END SUMMARY. REGULAR CONSULTATIONS ¶2. (U) This cable provides Mission's response to reftel request for information on bilateral security dialogues. The primary U.S.-Indonesia security forums are as follows: -- The Indonesian-United States Strategic Dialogue (IUSSD) meets annually. Participants include DOD/OSD, the Indonesian Defense Department, State, the Indonesian Joint Military, U.S. Joint Staff, DAO, the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC),and PACOM; -- Bilateral Defense Discussions (BDD) are held biannually to discuss training. PACOM, Service Components, the Indonesian Joint Staff, and ODC are the key players in these meetings; and, -- Ad hoc discussions designed to plan and update IMET are held as needed. This is a local meeting between the ODC and the Indonesian Joint Staff. ¶3. (U) The IUSSD and BDD were established through formal agreements in 2005. The IUSSD agreement is between OSD and the Defense Ministry. The BDD agreement is between PACOM and the Indonesian Joint Staff. The ad hoc discussions are informal in nature, are based on good relations, and are conducted when the need to review IMET arises. ¶4. (U) The location of the IUSSD alternates between the U.S. and Indonesia. It was last held in July 2009 in Indonesia. The next meeting is scheduled for June 2010. Like the IUSSD, the BDD alternates venues, but is normally held twice per year, in August and January in Jakarta. The last BDD was held in Honolulu in July 2009, and the next will be held in January 2010. The DASD co-hosts the IUSSD and the PACOM J50 (Deputy Policy Director) co-chairs the BDD. APPRAISAL OF DIALOGUES ¶5. (U) The existing dialogues are generally dynamic and useful. For example, the last IUSSD focused on the following specific areas: (1) maritime security/regional stability/counterterrorism; (2) professionalization and modernization of the Indonesian military, including civilian control; and (3) the Indonesian military's ability to respond to domestic humanitarian crises, overseas peacekeeping operations and disaster assistance. While the productivity of a given iteration depends on the depth and level of preparation of participating officials, dialogues to date have been productive. The DAO, ODC, and PACOM find them very particularly useful in providing a framework for ongoing discussions. PROPOSED ADDITIONS ¶6. (U) Under the proposed bilateral Comprehensive Partnership, the U.S. and Indonesia seek to deepen engagement on security matters by initiating policy planning and strategic consultations. The form and timing of these discussions have yet to be determined, but the planned first round of strategic consultations would be held during U/S Burns's visit to Indonesia in early December. Also, a Defense Cooperation Agreement was first proposed by the Indonesians at the 2007 IUSSD. Negotiations on the framework for the DCA are ongoing. Post considers that it would be useful to conduct regular policy planning talks. As the November 4-5 visit of Special Advisor for Nonproliferation and Arms Control demonstrated, regular consultations on nonproliferation could also be useful for advancing that agenda. HUME