Between 13 and 24 April 2026, the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) collaborated with the Purnomo Yusgiantoro Centre (PYC) to conduct an executive programme designed for senior officers of Indonesia’s Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI). The programme was held at the Pusat Kompetensi Bela Negara BPSDM Kementerian Pertahanan in Rumpin, located in Bogor Regency, West Java. This initiative aimed to enhance the leadership capacity of participants in the realm of national defence and security.
RSIS assembled key experts from its component research centres/programmes to engage the officers in discussions about how the armed forces can effectively prepare and adapt to the challenges posed by an increasingly complex global environment. The programme aimed to prepare the officers for comprehensive understanding and strategic thinking to address evolving security threats in an increasingly BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible) world.
Throughout the duration of the programme, participants were exposed to a broad range of perspectives related to both national and international affairs. This exposure was intended to deepen their understanding of the critical role that national strategy plays in responding to global security challenges. Such a holistic approach was designed not only to broaden the officers’ knowledge but also to equip them with practical insights that can be applied within their respective roles.
Conducted online, the sessions included an overview of Asia-Pacific geopolitics and its implications for Indonesia’s national security, presented by Dr Leonard Sebastian, Senior Fellow at the Indonesia Programme at RSIS. Following this, Dr Jose Ma. Luis P. Montesclaros, Research Fellow with the Centre of Non-Traditional Security Studies at RSIS, addressed non-traditional security threats that are increasingly prominent in Southeast Asia, especially food security issues. Professor of Security Studies, Rohan Gunaratna, provided a comprehensive session on terrorism, violent extremism, and radicalisation. The final session, conducted by Senior Fellow and Coordinator of Projects (Naval/Maritime Affairs), Dr Collin Koh, focused on maritime security and the challenges posed by transnational maritime crimes, underscoring Indonesia’s strategic position in regional security affairs.
This executive programme provided a valuable platform for Indonesia’s senior military officers to strengthen their leadership and strategic capabilities in an era marked by unpredictable and multifaceted security challenges.
