NUCLEAR POWERED WARSHIP, DOES INDONESIA NEED IT?

Abstract

The regional security environment is heating up due to the formation of defense cooperation between Australia, America and Britain (AUKUS) with their first agreement, namely the procurement of nuclear-powered attack submarines for Australia from the US. Through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia expressed that Indonesia is concerned about the decision because it could disrupt regional security stability and also lead to an arms race. However, this nuclear-powered submarine has many advantages that conventional diesel-powered submarines do not have. Actually, what is a nuclear-powered submarine? Which countries have used it? And does Indonesia also need submarines or other nuclear-powered warships? These three questions will be discussed in research using qualitative methods by considering previous research and international law related to maritime affairs and defense. Although Indonesia needs modernization of defense equipment to be able to balance its power with regional countries, there are many considerations if the modernization is carried out by procuring nuclear-powered submarines, ranging from costs, human resources, facilities, Indonesian principles to applicable international law .