U.S. Oks Maritime Surveillance Drone Program for Indonesia

U.S. President Joe Biden has agreed to support Indonesia’s maritime surveillance drone project.

An official statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia said the initiative was launched by Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (BAKAMLA).

On the margins of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, Biden and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo will hold a bilateral meeting, during which the leaders will review efforts to accelerate U.S.-Indonesian partnership across a wide range of shared challenges and opportunities, including through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII).

U.S. support will enable BAKAMLA to procure drones, pilot training, and maintenance that will significantly enhance BAKAMLA’s capabilities related to maritime domain awareness, maritime law enforcement, and countering illegal fishing, the embassy said.

In Fiscal Year 2022 alone, the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development are planning to provide Indonesia with more than $150 million in bilateral development and security assistance.