RRI.CO.ID, Kupang - A trilateral partnership among the Indonesian National Police (Polri), the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and the Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL) took center stage in Kupang on Thursday, August 6, 2026, marking a key milestone in securing international border zones and combating transnational crime.

The strategic alignment was highlighted during a reception for delegates from Polri’s International Relations Division (Divhubinter), the AFP, and PNTL at the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Regional Police Headquarters. Given NTT’s strategic position sharing a direct land border with Timor-Leste and serving as a maritime gateway toward Australia, the three nations convened for a technical Trilateral Meeting focused on intelligence sharing, joint operational coordination, and personnel capacity building.

To enhance border monitoring efforts, the AFP delegation, led by Federal Agent Chad Aston alongside Judy Goldsmith, Sarah Hammond, and Dalia Das Regas, handover operational equipment to the NTT Regional Police, including motorcycles, laptops, printers, and binoculars. Delegations from PNTL, led by Chief Superintendent Calisto Gonzaga, joined Polri officials to formalize operational steps for regional stability across the three jurisdictions.

East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police Chief Inspector General Rudi Darmoko emphasized the necessity of cross-border collaboration. He affirmed that international cooperation and shared intelligence are essential for mitigating transnational security threats along shared maritime and land borders.

"Security challenges in border areas cannot be tackled alone, requiring strong collaboration, particularly in border surveillance, intelligence information exchange, and handling transnational crime, NTT’s strategic geographic position bordering Timor-Leste directly and lying on the route to Australia demands strengthened cross-country cooperation to preserve regional security," Inspector General Rudi Darmoko stated in Kupang on Thursday, August 6, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He also appreciated the operational equipment support from the AFP, which will boost our personnel's capability in maintaining border zone safety.

Senior Translator at Polri’s Divhubinter, Police Grand Commissioner Juara Silalahi, highlighted the operational goals of the trilateral summit. "This Trilateral Meeting serves as a vital platform to strengthen coordination, exchange intelligence information, and build personnel capacity to counter cross-border crime threats," he noted. ***