March 12, 2026 | 01:18 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Indonesia’s defense minister, said the military’s decision to place Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) troops on Alert Status One does not carry geopolitical or economic implications.
Sjafrie said the measure reflects military preparedness as part of the country’s broader geostrategy. He stressed that the government aims to reassure the public that the national security situation remains stable.
“Actually, what the public needs is to feel safe and comfortable,” he said at the Ministry of Defense office in Jakarta on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
The defense minister added that public well-being also depends on the availability of basic necessities such as food, clothing and housing. He therefore urged Indonesians not to be concerned about the military’s heightened readiness status.
According to Sjafrie, Alert Status One is a common military term referring to operational preparedness.
“Our national duty is to regulate national policies and the TNI Commander’s duty is to regulate operational policies,” he said.
Earlier, a telegram ordering the Alert Status One posture was signed by TNI Chief of Staff for Operations, Lt. Gen. Bobby Rinal Makmun, in Jakarta on March 1, 2026.
The document contained seven key instructions, including orders to place personnel and major weapon systems on standby and deploy troops for patrols at strategic locations in the capital.
The alert status remains in effect from the time the document was issued until further notice.
“This telegram is a command,” the document obtained by Tempo on March 7 stated.
TNI Commander Agus Subiyanto previously said the decision to impose Alert Status One was a precautionary measure and part of routine military procedures.
Agus explained that the status is commonly applied in various situations, including natural disaster response operations that require rapid mobilization of troops.
For example, regional military commands may place a battalion on Alert Status One when responding to disasters in their areas. During such periods, the TNI typically tests the readiness of personnel as well as the mobilization of logistical and equipment support.
He added that the recent deployment of tactical and armored vehicles along with troops from several regions to Jakarta was part of such readiness tests.
“This is a common practice for Alert Status One,” Agus said at the State Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, March 10, when asked whether the move was related to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Sultan Abdurrahman contributed to the writing of this article.
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