Indonesia's Bakamla pushes for expanded ASEAN coast guard cooperation following trilateral exercise

Indonesia's Bakamla pushes for expanded ASEAN coast guard cooperation following trilateral exercise

Indonesia's Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) is calling for expanded participation in joint coast guard exercises across ASEAN member states, following a successful trilateral drill conducted with Malaysia and Singapore in the waters surrounding the Riau Islands.

Vice Admiral Irvansyah, Bakamla's chief, emphasized that the recent exercise should serve as a blueprint for strengthening maritime security collaboration throughout the region.

"I hope this will also become a model for the ASEAN region, where there will be more such exercises involving more countries and more extensive training materials," Irvansyah stated during a high-level meeting on tripartite coast guard cooperation in Batam on Tuesday.

Building on established cooperation

The recent exercise, part of the INSIMA cooperation initiative, brought together 60 personnel from Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia for three days of joint operations from August 10-12, 2026. The drills included Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) training organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, with participation from Bakamla, Singapore Police Coast Guard vessel White Tip Shark, and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency vessel KM Sibuan 2224.

This cooperation builds on nearly two decades of trilateral maritime security efforts. Since 2004, the three nations have conducted coordinated patrols through the MALSINDO framework to combat armed robbery and piracy in the strategically vital Malacca Straits, where 60% of international maritime trade passes annually. These sustained efforts have proven highly effective, with Malaysia's Transport Minister reporting zero piracy incidents in Malaysian waters for four consecutive years as of 2017.

Gradual expansion strategy

Irvansyah acknowledged that expanding the exercises to include all ASEAN members would require substantial preparation and coordination. With Timor-Leste having joined as ASEAN's 11th member state in October 2025, completing a two-decade accession process, the organization now encompasses a broader geographic and operational scope.

"We start with our closest neighbors first. These are the nearest, easiest to coordinate with, and the budget and cost support may not be too large since it only involves crossing a short distance," Irvansyah explained, noting that involving countries such as the Philippines or Vietnam would demand greater resources due to longer geographical distances.

Bakamla, established in December 2014 when President Joko Widodo transformed the coordinating body Bakorkamla into an active patrol and enforcement agency, operates with 1,354 personnel and a 2026 budget of Rp 1.65 trillion. In 2022, the Indonesian government expanded Bakamla's mandate, designating it as the coordinating body for all maritime law enforcement agencies in the country.

Shared maritime security challenges

The push for enhanced cooperation stems from common threats facing the region's maritime domain. Southeast Asian waters contend with multiple security challenges including piracy, illegal drug trafficking, human trafficking, people smuggling, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing—all transboundary in nature requiring collaborative responses.

"The coast guards in ASEAN are united. We stand together to safeguard maritime security," Irvansyah affirmed, expressing optimism that the trilateral exercise model could be replicated across the broader ASEAN framework.

The admiral emphasized that strengthening cooperation between coast guards remains essential given the similar nature of maritime security threats throughout the region, positioning the current trilateral framework as an efficient foundation for future expansion of joint exercises.