Indonesia's Defense Ministry Budget Second Largest in 2024 State Budget, Spending Trends Revealed

The Ministry of Defense (Kemenhan) has a budget allocation of Rp135.44 trillion in the 2024 State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (RAPBN) draft. This allocation for the ministry headed by Prabowo Subianto is the second largest among other ministries/institutions (K/L).

Although it is one of the highest, the budget is down Rp8.82 trillion (6.11%) compared to the 2023 outlook, which was Rp144.26 trillion.

"The Ministry of Defense continues to pursue the realization of the minimum essential force (MEF) to guarantee the upholding of sovereignty, the maintenance of the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), and the protection of national safety from threats and disruptions to the integrity of the nation and state," according to an excerpt from the 2024 Financial Note.

These priority activities are carried out through the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Task Implementation Program with priority outputs including:

1. Military operations other than war (OMSP)
2. Preparation for securing the 2024 General Election
3. Improvement of official housing
4. Procurement, maintenance, and upkeep of main weapon systems (alutsista)
5. Strengthening defense and security in border areas and outer islands
6. Development and advancement of the defense industry.

The majority of the Kemenhan's budget in the 2024 RAPBN will be used for management support programs (Rp78.12 trillion); and modernization of alutsista, non-alutsista, and defense infrastructure (Rp39.47 trillion).

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that the defense and security industry needs to be continuously encouraged to become advanced and independent with the support of the State Budget.

"Among other things, it is used for the gradual fulfillment of Alutsista needs with the support of the domestic defense industry to meet the minimum main force," said Jokowi in his speech text regarding the APBN Bill and the 2024 Financial Note, as quoted from the State Secretariat website, Wednesday (16/8/2023).

Here is a breakdown of the Kemenhan's budget in the 2024 RAPBN:

* Management Support: Rp78.12 trillion
* Modernization of alutsista, non-alutsista, and defense infrastructure: Rp39.47 trillion
* Defense Policy and Regulation: Rp24.7 billion
* Professionalism and Welfare of Soldiers: Rp11.99 trillion
* TNI Task Implementation: Rp3.94 trillion
* Research, Industry, and Higher Defense Education: Rp1.48 trillion
* Development of Defense Human Resources: Rp399.2 billion

Over the trend, the Kemenhan's budget has been shrinking over the past three years, as seen in the graph above. Since Prabowo took office as Minister of Defense in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet (2019-2024), the highest Kemenhan budget was recorded in 2022 at Rp150.43 trillion, while the lowest was in 2019 at Rp115.35 trillion.