Indonesia Strengthens Coordination with Neighbors to Tackle Haze

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the Indonesian government is strengthening communication and coordination with neighboring countries to address forest and land fires and the resulting haze that has spread across the region.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela said Indonesia holds regular meetings with regional partners to discuss the haze issue and ensure follow‑up actions are taken. “These regular meetings to discuss the haze issue and coordinate follow‑up actions are ongoing,” Nabyl said in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

He said Indonesia continues to optimize the ASEAN cooperation framework to address transboundary haze through regional mechanisms under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

Nabyl stressed that Indonesia prioritizes cooperation with neighboring countries, particularly in addressing environmental issues that cross national borders.

“Indonesia always prioritizes cooperation with neighboring countries, especially in addressing environmental issues that cross borders, such as haze, in order to maintain good bilateral relations,” he said.

Indonesia and other countries in the region are also increasing vigilance due to dry weather conditions influenced by climate dynamics.

Domestically, the government is implementing strategies to extinguish forest and land fires. The Ministry of Forestry and the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) are preparing weather modification operations (OMC) in West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and East Java.

OMC operations in East Java are scheduled for September 3–9, 2026, using a CASA A2104 aircraft. Operations in West Kalimantan will take place from September 5–14, 2026, and in Central Kalimantan from September 6–14, 2026.

In West and Central Kalimantan, the government will use CASA 212 aircraft with logistical support from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

These efforts aim to control forest and land fire conditions and strengthen response measures in affected areas.

The impact of forest and land fires in Indonesia has also been reported in several neighboring countries. Haze has reached Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, and the Philippines.

On Saturday, September 5, the Malaysian government declared a state of emergency in Serian, Sarawak, which borders Indonesia, due to haze. The status was lifted on Monday, September 7.

Several countries have expressed support for Indonesia’s efforts to address forest and land fires.

The Japanese government deployed three helicopters to assist firefighting operations in Indonesia, scheduled to operate from September 12–19. Meanwhile, Malaysia has expressed readiness to assist Indonesia.

Although several countries have offered assistance, Indonesia has yet to respond. Because forest and land fires and haze spread beyond their origins and can cross national borders, countries must coordinate across borders to address the problem. (Misni Parjiati)