Indonesia, Russia Explore Cooperation In Cyber Defense

JAKARTA, March 23 (Antara) - The governments of Indonesia and Russia are exploring cooperation in cyber defense, especially the prevention of cyber crimes from infiltrating the confidential data of the state. "We have established cooperation in the field security, especially the problems of anti-terror and terror financing," Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto said during a bilateral meeting between Indonesia and Russia here on Wednesday. The senior minister stated that the Russian government had made the basic principles of state policy in the field of international information security. Therefore, the knowledge exchange with Russia was considered essential to support the security in the country. The minister pointed out that Indonesia has established a National Cyber Agency to help overcome the problems of information and cyber defense. "Currently, the existing infrastructure and funding are insufficient. In addition, the awareness of security should also be improved," he remarked. Indonesia will gain experience through cooperation in the field of cyber security. Prior to Russia, Indonesia has discussed the issue of cyber security with Australia, India, and Singapore, he noted. The minister stated that the hacking of confidential data could become a serious threat to the state. "As a result, cyber security is now a valuable asset for the government," he noted. The bilateral meeting was also attended by the Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Russia O.V. Khramov, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Mikhail Galuzin, as well as representatives of relevant ministries and institutions. Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev had earlier explored the cooperation in the field of intelligence sharing to address issues on security and defense, according to the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs. This form of cooperation is possibly through exchange, training, and equipment, among others. Jokowi held a meeting with Patrushev at the Merdeka Palace on Tuesday to discuss issues related to defense and security. During the meeting, they also discussed international issues, such as the escalating tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Russia had offered several sophisticated weaponry, such as the Sukhoi Su-35 aircraft, submarines, and high-speed ships to Indonesia.