Indonesia Supports Advance Notification Before Ballistic Missile Tests

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia has expressed its support for a call by the Conference on Disarmament (CD) for nuclear-weapon states to adhere to the principle of advance notification before conducting ballistic missile tests and tests of similar weapons. Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Vahd Nabyl Mulachela, said advance notification of missile launches is an important measure to build confidence and promote transparency among countries.

“Indonesia certainly supports this advance notification initiative because it promotes transparency and confidence-building measures that can reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation,” Nabyl said at a press briefing in Jakarta on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

According to him, for Indonesia, advance notification is part of efforts to build confidence among countries. “If we look at it, for Indonesia, the context is indeed about building confidence,” Nabyl said.

He explained that Indonesia had taken note of a joint statement issued following a meeting on August 11, 2026, which emphasized the importance of strengthening advance notification practices, particularly regarding the launch of long-range missiles such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and other launch systems.

Nabyl said Indonesia considers notification prior to ballistic missile tests important to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation, particularly given that such tests involve highly destructive weapons systems. Indonesia hopes that efforts to enhance transparency in weapons testing can be placed within a broader context as part of the shared goal of ending the nuclear arms race.

Such efforts, he said, should also lead to commitments by nuclear-weapon states to fulfill their commitments and obligations toward nuclear disarmament. For context, 41 countries issued a joint statement urging nuclear-weapon states to comply with a notification protocol requiring at least 24 hours’ advance notice before conducting tests of long-range ballistic missiles and similar weapons.

The statement was delivered at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland, and released by the U.S. Mission to International Organizations on Tuesday, August 11.

“Conducting tests of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles without sufficient and detailed advance notification is a dangerous step that undermines the peace and security of countries located near the test site,” the joint statement said, as reported by Anadolu.