Abstract
Indonesia’s defense strategy, rooted in the Sishankamrata which stands for Sistem Pertahanan Keamanan Rakyat Semesta (Total People’s Defense), faces significant challenges in addressing contemporary security threats. This study aims to analyze Indonesia’s defense policies, particularly its acquisition strategies, and compare them with contemporary security threats surrounding Indonesia. Despite Sishankamrata’s historical success in mobilizing national resources for internal security, this article argues that its inward focus and fragmented implementation have hindered its effectiveness in dealing with regional power competition and modern warfare demands. Through the use of a qualitative approach, this article examines official defense documents, historical analyses, and case studies of military procurement from other country. Our findings reveal that Indonesia’s diversified acquisition strategy, which includes primarily the strategy to source weapons from 33 countries, has resulted in severe interoperability and logistical challenges which contributes to systemic inefficiencies in Indonesia’s defense system. The study argues that Indonesia should adopt a more cohesive defense policy, emphasizing Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) as a national defense strategy that is shared among all defense stakeholders not just exclusive for specific services. Lessons from other countries highlighted that a country’s military modernization will require not just resources, but also political will and strategic clarity. Addressing these gaps would enable Indonesia to enhance its military effectiveness and align its defense policies with contemporary security challenges.