Indonesia, Singapore reaffirm commitment to safeguard Strait of Malacca

JAKARTA: Indonesia and Singapore on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding the Strait of Malacca while pledging continued coordination with Malaysia and Thailand to preserve security, safety and freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway.

President Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia and Singapore shared a common interest in preserving peace and security in the Strait of Malacca in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“Indonesia and Singapore are countries that directly border the Strait of Malacca. We have an interest in keeping the Strait of Malacca as a passage that remains open to all parties,” he said during a joint press conference with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the Istana Merdeka here on Monday, which was streamed live on YouTube.

The leaders earlier met for the annual Indonesia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat, during which they discussed bilateral, regional and global issues.

Prabowo said maintaining the Strait of Malacca also meant protecting it from pollution, maritime accidents and piracy, which he described as matters of vital interest to countries surrounding the waterway.

Beyond the bilateral agenda, Prabowo said he and Wong also discussed regional and global issues that could affect both countries.

He said they reaffirmed Asean’s position that disputes should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and diplomacy, not only in Southeast Asia but in all regions, while agreeing that any misunderstandings or misperceptions should be resolved openly as friends.

Wong arrived in Jakarta on Sunday evening for the annual Leaders’ Retreat, which Prabowo said was the second such meeting between the two leaders and reflected the special relationship between Indonesia and Singapore.

Prabowo said the discussions were aimed not only at addressing current challenges but also at preparing the Indonesia-Singapore partnership for the future.

He noted that Indonesia and Singapore would mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, expressing confidence that continued cooperation between the two countries would contribute to stability, growth and prosperity across Southeast Asia.