STRAIGHTTIME.ASIA, INDONESIA – The Indonesian central government has once again demonstrated its serious commitment to strengthening the country’s strategic border regions. Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Djamari Chaniago, conducted an official working visit to Natuna Regency on Thursday (July 2, 2026), as part of efforts to reinforce national defense, security, and accelerate development in Indonesia’s outermost territories.
Upon arrival in Natuna, Minister Djamari was welcomed directly by Nyanyang Haris Pratamura, Vice Governor of Riau Islands, alongside officials from the Natuna Regency Government and members of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda).
The ministerial delegation arrived aboard a Gulfstream IV/SP PK-TWY aircraft, landing at Raden Sadjad Air Force Base, where an official welcoming ceremony was held before proceeding to a gathering session at the VIP Room of Graha Serasan.
Also attending the reception were Natuna Regent, Chairman of the Natuna Regional House of Representatives Rusdi, Regional Secretary Boy Wijanarko Varianto, and several senior military officials, including high-ranking commanders from the Indonesian National Armed Forces.
Vice Governor Nyanyang Haris Pratamura emphasized that the visit reflects the central government’s strong commitment toward Natuna, a region considered highly strategic not only for Indonesia’s national defense system but also for the broader development agenda of the country’s frontier territories.
According to Nyanyang, strong collaboration between the central government, regional administrations, and security institutions remains the main foundation for maintaining national stability while accelerating development in border areas.
“Strong synergy between the central government, local governments, as well as the Indonesian military and police, is the key to accelerating development while safeguarding the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia, especially in border regions such as Natuna,” Nyanyang said.
Following the welcoming ceremony, Minister Djamari continued his visit to the Fleet Combat Command (Guspurla) Koarmada I headquarters to inspect defense preparedness in Indonesia’s maritime border areas.
In a separate agenda, Djamari also delivered direct instructions to hundreds of Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) personnel and National Police officers stationed in Natuna, emphasizing the critical importance of the region in Indonesia’s national security framework.
Addressing security personnel, the minister stressed that Natuna remains one of Indonesia’s most strategic territories, given its direct proximity to several neighboring countries and its role as a frontline representation of Indonesian sovereignty in the northern region of the archipelago.
He urged all military and police personnel to perform their duties professionally while contributing positively to local communities.
“Everything you see and everything you do here must be done correctly. No unit should remain inactive. You are here to protect the sovereignty of the nation,” Djamari firmly stated.
According to the minister, the responsibility of security forces in Natuna extends beyond conventional defense duties. Personnel must also remain vigilant against emerging threats, including narcotics trafficking, which frequently exploits maritime routes across Indonesia’s vast archipelagic territory.
For that reason, he called on all related institutions to strengthen inter-agency collaboration in preventing cross-border threats, including drug smuggling operations and other forms of transnational crime.
In addition, Djamari reminded all military and police personnel about the importance of routine training to maintain physical readiness, mental resilience, and combat capabilities.
“For soldiers, if you are not engaged in combat, then you must train. It is impossible for military personnel to perform effectively without continuous training,” he said. (**)
By: Iman Suryanto
