DOMPU — Indonesia’s defense doctrine is undergoing a subtle but significant recalibration. The recent visit by Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin to the newly established Territorial Construction Brigade (Brigif TP 31) in Dompu, West Nusa Tenggara, underscores a dual-track mandate: maintaining territorial integrity while stimulating provincial economies.
The stationing of 800 personnel across 80 hectares of land is not merely a strategic footprint. Sjafrie has explicitly tasked these “young soldiers” with integrating into the local economic fabric—specifically in agriculture and fisheries. This approach, often seen in developmental states, seeks to prevent the friction that sometimes arises from a permanent military presence in rural areas.
By demanding that the military act as a “beneficial entity” for the people, Sjafrie is reinforcing the traditional Indonesian doctrine of “Total People’s Defense.” In an era of shifting security dynamics, Jakarta seems to realize that the strongest fortress is not built of concrete, but of economic interdependence between the soldier and the citizen.
