Indo-Asia-Pacific

Context Reference Book

Situation D

Major Operations (Forcible Entry)

in support of Indonesia

Department of Joint, Interagency and Multinational Operations

U.S. Army Command and General Staff College

Indo-Asia-Pacific

Context Reference Book

Major Operations (Forcible Entry)

Indonesia and Straits of Malacca

“Well, it is a pleasure to meet President Widodo.  I want to congratulate him on an inspiring election…it is once again an affirmation of the full transition that Indonesia has made to a thriving democracy…As part of our comprehensive partnership we’ve already worked on a wide range of issues — economic, development, security, people-to-people exchanges, environmental cooperation…[thank] Indonesia for the leadership regionally, as well as internationally…important for us to maintain international norms that ensure freedom of navigation, and that all countries are treated fairly and equitably…Indonesia has played an extraordinary role in promoting pluralism and respect for religious diversity…work that it’s done to isolate extremism”

Extract from Remarks by President Obama before Bilateral Meeting with President Widodo of Indonesia on 10th November 2014.

1. Introduction. Indonesia and the Strait of Malacca are globally and regionally significant. Indonesia is a vast and growing country that straddles the Indian and Pacific Oceans with a maze of islands and waterways. The Strait of Malacca is a key waterway in this archipelagic state and facilitates 30% of global trade. These are key geopolitical and economic elements of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and PACOM AOR. Stability and security of this sub-region remains critical to the United States National Security Strategy and is a key feature of the “Rebalance” to the Pacific.

Indonesia

2. Overview. Following a predominately Dutch colonial influence and a short period of occupation by Japanese Imperial Forces during WWII, the Republic of Indonesia emerged as an independent country that today values nationalism, democracy and responsible participation in regional and global affairs. Given its unique geographic and archipelagic characteristics, as well as its sizeable population it remains an influential and important country in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and the United States National Security Strategy. The stability and security of this sovereign nation remains a key consideration in the broader regional and global security framework.

3. Challenges. Maintaining stability and security across this vast, diverse and complex country is a challenging endeavor for the Indonesian bicameral national government and the decentralized administrative units responsible for governing the thirty-four provinces. While Indonesia has the largest economy in South-East Asia, it suffers from under-development and inequality. The security apparatus consists of a broad range of capabilities and services, although the level of sophistication is limited. This is partly a consequence of a historically diverse acquisition process, relatively low funding, and a military structure that is partly decentralized and regionally influenced. The decentralized elements of the military are however a strength as they mitigate internal security challenges of managing a vast archipelagic mass with innumerous islands and waterways; complex physical terrain that consists of remote mountains, hills and rivers, monsoonal low lands, and dense urban coastal areas and cities; as well as a diverse ethnic and religious population.

4. Threats. Indonesia continues to combat a number of threats with the use of a cooperative security and military effort, which includes international support from donor countries and organizations such as the Association of South-East Asia Nations, the United States and Australia. Examples include President Joko Widodo’s “Global Maritime Fulcrum” initiative, the United States-Indonesia 2010 Comprehensive Partnership, and Australia-Indonesia national police cooperation programs.

5. Indonesia continues to be attacked by Islamic Extremist groups that threaten the security and stability in selected regions of the country. On May 26, 2017 on the city streets of Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, Islamic Extremists conducted suicide bombings that killed three police officers and wounded 12 others. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks. This event is not unique with Indonesia having a history of terrorist and bombing attacks across the country since 2000. Organizations responsible for these attacks have included Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT), Al-Qaeda and more recently ISIS affiliated groups. They are understood to have links with other extremists groups such as Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), who are active in the Philippines. Other threats to security in Indonesia have included ongoing territorial disputes in the province of West Papua, illegal fishing, human trafficking and illicit drug trafficking.

Strait of Malacca

6. Overview. The Strait of Malacca is one of the most important global sea-lanes and directly influences security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. It is critical to world trade, including the transfer of global energy resources. Given the relative small size of the Strait, maintaining security requires close cooperation between Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Furthermore, this cooperation extends to the international community whereby countries from across the globe seek to protect their national interests. This includes active deterrence of transnational threats that are active in the region.

7. The Straits of Malacca is approximately 800km in length, 2.8 km in width at its narrowest point and has a shallow depth of around 25m. This sea-lane is required to facilitate the safe passage of over 300 shipping vessels daily. This seagoing traffic includes nearly 80% of energy imports and exports, and remains the shortest route between the supporting sea-lanes of the Middle East and Asia. The area also is home to oil, gas and telecommunications infrastructure.

8. These physical characteristics combined with the international interest makes effective governance of this vital area challenging to those that seek to secure it, and vulnerable to those that seek to exploit it. The international and regional community under the leadership of the United States, and an international security and legal framework, must cooperatively apply the elements of power (DIME) to guarantees its security. Examples of positive cooperative actions has included the ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); joint maritime patrols and presence of international naval forces, and regional cooperation agreements.

9. Threats. The threat of piracy in the Strait of Malacca has the potential to cause significant impacts to national economies, as well as destabilize the broader security cooperation between neighboring countries. Over the past 20 years piracy has been the major concern for security with levels fluctuating – often a reflection of the stability of the neighboring countries and/or the effectiveness of cooperative security between these countries, the international community and their militaries. The economic cost of piracy to the maritime industry is estimated at $7-12 billon, although relatively small in global trade terms, this has the potential to cause second order effects on small economies, and disrupt financial investment and diplomacy in the region. Furthermore, with increases in piracy other threats such as illicit drug, goods and people smuggling have the potential to increase and cause political, social and economic destabilization in the adjacent countries and regional provinces. Additionally, a range of environmental concerns such as the protection fishing industries and management of marine pollution also threaten regional and local stability.

Range of Military Operations: Indonesia and the Straits of Malacca

10. The following paragraphs outline the potential use of U.S and coalition military forces across the Range of Military Operations (ROMO) in support of Indonesia and in maintaining security and stability in the Strait of Malacca. The scenario below is fictitious and is only intended to support learning at the Command and General Staff College.

Regional Scenario

11. The complex situation in the Indonesian provinces of North Sumatra, Riau, West Sumatra, and the northern area of the Island of Sumatra, continues to worsen. Regional military units from these provinces who are loyal to the local military area (KODAM) commander have conducted a provincial coup d’état, moving against the Indonesian National Government Regional Administrators and have taken control of the provinces, including population centers, major ports, military facilities and critical infrastructure. They have declared independence from Indonesia and are calling for recognition by the international community. It is assessed that they are being subversively supported and aided by transnational criminal entities with links to North Korea and China, and are cooperating with terrorist elements operating in Southeast Asia, including ISIS affiliates. They are currently positioned to extend control of the adjacent provinces to the south of Sumatra, and north into Aceh. Capturing key terrain and infrastructure in these provinces will strengthen their base of support, support further discontent and separatist motivations within the population, causing wide spread unrest and instability; and further limit Indonesian military freedom to mobilize against the separatist uprising. Moreover, this will delay any military resolution and provide additional time for the KODAM commander to lobby for international political support, gain additional material support from subversive and covert networks, ultimately gaining legitimacy as an independent province. Critically, the KODAM commander and his forces will be positioned to threaten the security of the Strait of Malacca causing major disruption to global trade. If not contained this provides him a powerful political lever. Indonesia is likely to have significant international pressure on it to quickly resolve the security threat posed by the KODAM commander.

12. Indonesia has called on the international community to condemn the regional coup and insurrection, and sought assistance from partner nations. This threatens the sovereignty and stability of Indonesia, as well as increases the threat to the security of the critical international sea-lane passing through the Strait of Malacca. Currently the U.S. as part of an international coalition continues to conduct Freedom of Navigation and Overflight Operations, Counter-Drugs Operations, Protection of Civil Shipping Operations, Combating Terrorism and Homeland Defense Operations to combat maritime piracy, transnational crime and terrorism from this region. At the request of the Indonesian Government the United States is to commence planning for Major Offensive and Defensive Operations, and including operations to provide strategic Force Deterrence Options (FDO) and preliminary activity. This is likely to include Disarmament Operations, Enforcement of Exclusion Zones, Show of Force Operations, Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations, Strike and Raid Operations. The governments of the U.S. and Indonesia are currently lobbying allies and partner nations to provide political, financial and military support.

13. Likely Key Tasks:

-Form a Corps Level MN/CJTF to be prepared for non-permissive entry operations (Corps, MEF or Fleet)

-Preliminary operations may include the establishment of an Intermediate Staging Base (vic Java or Singapore)

-Secure the Strait of Malacca (prevent interference to global trade)

-Establish a maritime exclusion zone around Sumatra

-Support Indonesian Military Forces to defend Aceh and southern Sumatra from further enemy offensive maneuver.

-Support Indonesian Military Forces to suppress potential unrest/subversion in Aceh.

-Secure major ports and airfields, and critical energy and communications infrastructure.

-Be prepared to clear northern Sumatra of enemy forces, stabilize and handover to Indonesian security and military forces.

-Deter and/or defeat enemy support networks in the region.

References

Parameswaran, Prashanth. http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/islamic-state-attack-in-indonesia-a-look-at-the-2016-jakarta-bombings/. 15 January 2016.

The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/11/10/remarks-president-obama-and-president-widodo-indonesia-bilateral-meeting. 10 November 2014.

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