Japan Ends Support for Kalimantan Wildfire Response

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Japan has ended its support for Indonesia’s forest and land fire response in Kalimantan on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The assistance included three CH-47 Chinook helicopters and Japanese Self-Defense Forces personnel deployed for more than two weeks.

Japan’s Ministry of Defense ordered the end of the military assistance for wildfire response in Kalimantan. The decision was made by Japan’s Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

During the operation, three Chinook helicopters conducted 40 aerial missions and dropped more than 220 tons of water. Koizumi said the assistance had helped prevent the fires from spreading further across the affected areas.

Koizumi also said Indonesia would be able to continue controlling and handling the fires. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) expressed its appreciation for the support provided by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.

The aerial task force began operations on September 16, 2026, focusing on peatland fires in parts of West Kalimantan. Chinook helicopters conducted water-bombing operations around Pontianak and Ketapang.

The assistance marked the first time Japan’s military had conducted a forest and land fire suppression operation during an overseas mission. The operation also reflected growing cooperation between the defense ministries of Indonesia and Japan.

The Chinook helicopters and Japanese personnel departed from Kure Port in Hiroshima Prefecture on August 30, 2026. They arrived at Kijing Port in West Kalimantan on September 10, 2026, before beginning preparations for the firefighting mission.

The Japanese military assistance was part of broader cooperation between Indonesia and Japan in the defense sector. The cooperation includes military exercises and humanitarian operations, alongside efforts to expand practical collaboration between the two countries.