Threats and Opportunities in Facing the World Maritime Axis
The Research Cluster for Sustainable Ocean Policy (CSOP) held Lecture Series of International Sea Law: “Between Threats and Opportunities in Facing the World Maritime Axis” by Rear Admiral Aan Kurnia, S.Sos (Assistant for Chief of Naval Operations) March 29, 2018 at Djokosoetono Auditorium, FHUI, UI Campus, Depok.
The geographical conditions of Indonesia in the form of archipelagic state and bordered directly with a number of countries resulted in many threats and challenges. If not properly anticipated, then the threat will make it difficult for Indonesia to realize its goal to be the world maritime axis.
Rear Admiral Aan Kurnia, S.Sos (Assistant for Chief of Naval Operations) said the strategic value of the cross position of Indonesia, in addition to having opportunities, on the other hand also poses a threat to the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia.
Rear Admiral Aan reminded the potential wealth contained in the sea of Indonesia can be used as the basic capital of national development. The economic potential of the Indonesian marine sector with the sea area up to 70% currently only contributes to less than 30% of the national GDP in the marine sector.
In fact, it is estimated that economic potential of Indonesian marine sector is US$ 1.2 trillion per year and should be able to absorb a workforce of 40 million people. In addition, the potential of geothermal, mineral, oil, and natural gas as a consequence of Indonesia’s position passed by world’s two rings of fire is also very remarkable.
“Unfortunately the potential value of marine economy until now has not been fully utilized,” he said. Given such geographical conditions, threats arise from the potential for conflict. One of them is the problem of the state border of lndonesia with neighboring countries which remains unresolved so that it may threat Indonesian sovereignty and law enforcement at sea.
