Indonesian maritime security cooperation in the Malacca Straits

Abstract

This thesis argues that Indonesia’s sensitivity about its sovereignty in the Malacca Straits and Indonesia’s preference toward regional security cooperation determines Indonesia’s policy in rejecting and accepting multilateral cooperation in the Straits. This thesis then analyzes the Regional Maritime Security Initiative (RMSI), MALSINDO, Eyes-in-the-Sky (EiS), and the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships (ReCAAP) initiatives, and examines how Indonesia responded to these initiatives. This thesis finds the following: First, regarding international effort to enhance the security cooperation in the Straits, Indonesia’s sensitivity and its wariness of internationalizing the Straits remains a big challenge for the extraregional states’ security initiatives in securing the Malacca Straits. Second, regarding the regional cooperation in the Straits, even though Indonesia prefers regional cooperation, it would still limit its cooperation when dealing with the sovereignty issue. Third, regarding the security cooperation with extraregional powers, Indonesia prefers a bilateral security cooperation framework in securing the Straits.