RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Plenary Session of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) officially approved the report of Commission I on the deliberation and approval of the acceptance of a foreign grant of defense and security equipment. The approval forms part of the constitutional mechanism that must be fulfilled before the government can formally accept the grant.

Deputy Chairperson of Commission I, Budisatrio Djiwandono, stated that the acceptance of foreign grants is a strategic measure related to strengthening the nation's defense. Therefore, every foreign grant must receive the approval of the DPR RI, as mandated by Article 23 paragraph (1) of Law No. 17 of 2003 on State Finance.

"Compliance with Article 23 paragraph (1) of Law No. 17 of 2003 on State Finance is mandatory, whereby the approval of the DPR RI constitutes an imperative constitutional requirement for every grant received from a foreign government or institution," he said while presenting the report of Commission I during the DPR RI Plenary Session at the Nusantara II Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday, July 21, as quoted by dpr.go.id.

He further said that the deliberation was conducted after Commission I received its assignment under the Decision of the Consultation Meeting replacing the House Steering Committee Meeting on July 20, 2026. The assignment followed up on the Minister of Defense's Letter No. B/1845/M/VII/2026 dated July 7, 2026, requesting the DPR's approval for the acceptance of a foreign defense and security equipment grant.

As part of the deliberation process, Commission I held a working meeting with the government, attended by representatives from the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Finance, the Indonesian Military (TNI) Headquarters, and the Chiefs of Staff of the armed services, to obtain detailed explanations regarding the proposed grant.

"After hearing the Government's comprehensive explanation and the substantive views of all political party factions in Commission I, and after careful strategic consideration, Commission I unanimously agreed to approve the acceptance of the foreign defense and security equipment grant, as requested in the Minister of Defense's Letter No. B/1845/M/VII/2026 dated July 7, 2026," he said.

Through the report, Commission I requested the Plenary Session's approval so that the results of the deliberation at the commission level could be formally adopted as an official decision of the DPR RI.

Previously, during a working meeting with the government on Monday, July 20, Commission I approved the acceptance of a defense and security equipment grant from the Government of Italy in the form of the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi for the Indonesian Ministry of Defense. The approval was granted after all political party factions in Commission I expressed their support for the government's proposal, viewing it as part of the effort to reinforce Indonesia's main weapon system.