In a significant display of State presence and cross-sector synergy, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati visited conflict-prone areas in Papua on Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8, 2025., underscoring the government’s strategy to bolster national security and energy resilience, particularly through biofuel development.

The two ministers visited the tactical command post (Poskotis) of 733rd Masariku Infantry Battalion in Kenyam Sub-district, Nduga Regency, one of the poorest and most volatile regions in Papua Mountains Province. The visit marked Sri Mulyani’s first official presence in an active conflict zone.

Wearing bulletproof vests as a precautionary measure, the ministers received a direct security briefing from Lieutenant General Bambang Trisnohadi, Commander of the Third Joint Regional Defense Command, on the evolving operational landscape. They also conducted inspections of military equipment and infrastructure deployed in the area.

“The government’s strategic outlook views national defense and fiscal policy as deeply intertwined. Strong defense supports economic stability, and vice versa,” Defense Ministry spokesman, Brigadier Geneneral Frega Wenas Inkiriwang, said in a media statement released on Sunday, June 8, 2025.

According to Sri Mulyani’s official social media account, this collaboration is essential “in an increasingly volatile and competitive global environment.”

“Building a just and prosperous Indonesia requires collaborative, strong, and sustainable defense and financial institutions,” she wrote on her instagram account.

The visit also included a community engagement segment, as the ministers held dialogue with local officials under the Nduga Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimkab) and met teachers assigned to remote schools.

The joint Papua mission was followed by a visit to Boven Digoel, South Papua, on Sunday. There, Defense Minister Sjafrie inspected potential sites for a palm oil-based biodiesel project, a key component of President Prabowo Subianto’s energy independence agenda.

The initiative aims to reduce the country’s reliance on diesel fuel imports and strengthen domestic energy sovereignty. The Boven Digoel development is expected to integrate multiple sectors, including agriculture, forestry, defense, and energy, reinforcing a whole-of-government approach.

“Cross-sectoral synergy is the backbone of sustainable energy sovereignty and national stability,” the defense ministry stated in a release.

The tour concluded in Merauke, where Minister Sjafrie conducted a final evaluation and coordination meeting at the Johanes Abraham Dimara Air Base before returning to Jakarta. The entourage included other top Cabinet officials, such as the Ministers of Agriculture, Forestry, and Public Works, along with senior military and provincial leaders.