RRI.CO.ID, Banten – The Ministry of Defense has officially commenced technical preparations to enhance regional preparedness for large-scale disasters. Director of Health at the Directorate General of Defense Forces, First Marshal dr. Mukti Arja Berlian, officially opened the Middle Planning Conference (MPC) for the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group Combined FTX ‘Exercise Trident Resolve’ in Banten on Tuesday, 27 January 2026.

This pivotal meeting aims at harmonizing coordination for joint exercises among ADMM-Plus member nations. The exercise integrates three Experts’ Working Groups (EWG), namely Military Medicine, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), and Cyber Security, and is scheduled to take place in Banten in September 2026.

The urgency of this exercise stems from the region's geographical vulnerability to extreme geological threats. As quoted from the Ministry of Defense website, Mukti underscored, “Exercise Trident Resolve is designed with large-scale complex disaster scenarios, ranging from earthquakes and the eruption of Mount Krakatau to tsunamis.”

The current regional landscape demands a high level of international assistance readiness and interoperability between the ASEAN armed forces and eight dialogue partner countries, namely the United States, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Russia. The success of this defense diplomacy is expected to foster genuine synergy during crises that transcend national borders.

 Emphasizing the significance of this collaboration, Mukti mentioned the strategic value of synchronizing military forces across nations. “This joint exercise is a significant milestone for ADMM-Plus defense cooperation. We are consolidating various areas of expertise within a realistic framework to establish Confidence Building Measures and technical capacity in the field,” Mukti stated.

Beyond strategic and tactical elements, the exercise addresses humanitarian dimensions that directly impact local residents. Co-chaired by Indonesia and the United States, the EWG on Military Medicine will also conduct health service initiatives, including Project-based Community Medical Development (PCMD) and Medical Aid Provision (MAP), to provide direct benefits to the Banten community.

To conclude this phase of the year’s preparations, delegates will finalize all logistical and operational details over the next five days. The MPC agenda, running from January 26 to 30, 2026, includes a series of technical activities, ranging from a Combined EWG Briefing and preparatory conferences to communication protocol workshops and site surveys, to ensure all operational aspects are ready for the peak exercise phase.