International Journal of Humanities.
Education, and Social Sciences e-ISSN : 3026-0892 p-ISSN : 3026-1422 Index: Harvard.
Boston.
Sydney.
Dimensions.
Lens.
Scilit.
Semantic.
Google, etc https://doi.
org/10.
58578/IJHESS.
IndonesiaAos Defense Diplomacy in Advancing ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) as a Regulatory Basis for ASEAN First Responder Formation Oktaheroe Ramsi.
Anak Agung Banyu Perwita.
Yermia Hendarwoto Defense University.
Indonesia oramsi142@gmail.
perwita@gmail.
Article Info:
Submitted:
Revised:
Accepted: Published:
Aug 25, 2025 Sep 18, 2025 Sep 30, 2025 Oct 5, 2025 Abstract Southeast Asia ranks among the most disaster-prone regions globally, owing to its complex geological features and tropical climate.
In response.
ASEAN established the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER), the regionAos first legally binding framework for disaster Despite its significance.
AADMER's implementation faces structural limitations, including the principle of non-interference, disparities in member state capacities, and bureaucratic delays that hinder rapid mobilization during the critical "golden time" of disaster response.
This study examines IndonesiaAos defense diplomacy in reinforcing AADMER as a regulatory basis for developing a regional First Responder mechanism that is timely, coordinated, and effective.
Adopting a descriptive qualitative methodology, the research analyzes IndonesiaAos engagement through platforms such as the ASEAN Defence MinistersAo Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus, alongside the roles of key national institutions including the National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB), the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and cooperation with the ASEAN Volume 3.
Issue 3, 2025.
Pages 1220-1232 https://ejournal.
yasin-alsys.
org/IJHESS IJHESS Journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.
0 International License Oktaheroe Ramsi.
Anak Agung Banyu Perwita.
Yermia Hendarwoto Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centr.
The findings highlight IndonesiaAos strategic role as a country frequently affected by disasters in advancing civil-military interoperability, joint disaster response exercises, and rapid deployment mechanisms under AADMER.
IndonesiaAos defense diplomacy emerges not only as a tool of traditional security but also as a form of soft power that enhances regional solidarity and institutional legitimacy.
The study concludes that IndonesiaAos leadership is pivotal in realizing the vision of One ASEAN.
One Response through the establishment of a regulation-based, consensus-driven, and collectively operational First Responder system for the Keywords: AADMER.
ASEAN.
Defense Diplomacy.
First Responder.
Indonesia
INTRODUCTION
Southeast Asia is widely recognized as one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world, given its complex geological, geographical, and tropical climatic conditions that expose it to earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods, landslides, and tropical storms (National Geographic Society, 2023.
World Meteorological Organization, 2.
Among its member states.
Indonesia faces particularly acute risks as it lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it susceptible to multi-hazard disasters and earning the label of a global Audisaster laboratoryAy (Djalante, 2.
At the regional level, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) responded to this persistent threat by establishing the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) in 2005, which entered into force in 2009 as the first legally binding regional framework for disaster management (ASEAN, 2.
This agreement regulates prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, setting ASEAN apart from other regional organizations that lack comparable disaster management instruments (Collopy et al.
, 2.
Despite this achievement, the practical implementation of AADMER has faced structural and political limitations.
ASEANAos operational mechanism is based on a requestbased system in line with the principle of non-interference, which constrains its ability to serve as a rapid collective first responder during the crucial Augolden timeAy of the first three days after a disaster (Inouye APCSS, 2020.
Acharya, 2.
This challenge raises an Volume 3.
Issue 3, 2025 Oktaheroe Ramsi.
Anak Agung Banyu Perwita.
Yermia Hendarwoto important question of how ASEAN can transform AADMER from a normative framework into a more operationally effective mechanism.
Scholars have highlighted that Indonesia, with its extensive experience in humanitarian missions and its civil-military capacity, is well positioned to assume a leadership role in this transformation (Pranomo.
Perwita & Sarjito, 2.
Existing studies on ASEANAos disaster management highlight the significance of AADMER as a legal instrument but often focus primarily on its normative and institutional aspects rather than its operational effectiveness (Collopy et al.
, 2020.
Acharya, 2.
Similarly, research on IndonesiaAos defense diplomacy has explored its contributions to traditional security and peacekeeping missions but has paid limited attention to its role in strengthening non-traditional security frameworks such as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) (Pranomo, 2.
This indicates a research gap in understanding how defense diplomacy can be leveraged to reinforce AADMER as a functional regional mechanism for disaster response.
To address this gap, this study introduces novelty by linking IndonesiaAos defense diplomacy with ASEANAos disaster management agenda, arguing that defense diplomacy, traditionally associated with military cooperation and confidence-building, can serve as a strategic tool for enhancing regional disaster response capacities.
This perspective draws on theoretical insights from defense diplomacy and regional security studies, which emphasize the role of middle powers in shaping collective security through both hard and soft power instruments (Acharya, 2014.
Pranomo, 2.
By applying these theories, the study highlights IndonesiaAos potential contribution to transforming ASEANAos disaster management from a reactive, state-led approach into a proactive, collective framework.
Accordingly, this research focuses on how IndonesiaAos defense diplomacy can strengthen AADMER as a regional legal instrument in the context of Southeast AsiaAos disaster-prone environment.
It examines the dynamics of coordination, structural constraints, and opportunities for policy reform, while offering strategic recommendations for building a more responsive and collective regional disaster management system under ASEANAos framework.
International Journal of Humanities.
Education, and Social Sciences Oktaheroe Ramsi.
Anak Agung Banyu Perwita.
Yermia Hendarwoto
METHODS
This study employs a qualitative descriptive approach within policy research to examine IndonesiaAos defense diplomacy in strengthening the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) as the legal basis for a regional First Responder mechanism.
A qualitative design is considered most appropriate for exploring political and institutional phenomena, allowing meanings, patterns, and connections to emerge that are not easily quantifiable (Creswell, 2014.
Lamont, 2.
The research seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of how IndonesiaAos defense diplomacy contributes to regional disaster governance, linking normative commitments to the operational realities of ASEAN cooperation.
To deepen this analytical lens, the study adopts the concept of defense diplomacy, understood as the use of military and defense instruments for cooperative, non-coercive purposes in managing non-traditional security challenges (Perwita & Sarjito, 2.
At the same time.
NyeAos .
notion of soft power frames IndonesiaAos disaster diplomacy as a tool of normative influence, where humanitarian assistance and rapid response initiatives enhance legitimacy and credibility within ASEAN and beyond.
Taken together, these frameworks situate defense diplomacy not merely as operational cooperation but also as a soft power strategy that strengthens ASEANAos collective resilience while advancing IndonesiaAos regional leadership role.
In the qualitative tradition, this research utilizes a case study method.
The case study design allows examination of a contemporary phenomenon where the boundaries between the phenomenon and its context are blurred (Yin, 2.
The case in focus is IndonesiaAos role in advancing AADMER as a foundation for ASEANAos First Responder framework, particularly through defense diplomacy practices within the ADMM and ADMM-Plus processes, joint HADR exercises, and regional coordination led by the AHA Centre.
The case was selected due to its strategic significance in operationalizing ASEAN disaster response mechanisms and its relevance to understanding IndonesiaAos non-coercive military diplomacy in humanitarian contexts.
Evidence collection involved a combination of documentary analysis and Primary data sources included official ASEAN documents such as the AADMER text and implementing regulations, reports from ADMM and ADMM-Plus meetings.
AHA Centre outputs.
IndonesiaAos Defense White Paper, and BNPB policy Volume 3.
Issue 3, 2025 Oktaheroe Ramsi.
Anak Agung Banyu Perwita.
Yermia Hendarwoto Empirical data were complemented with records from regional disaster response exercises, such as the ARF DiREx and ASEAN HADR drills.
Four BNPB officials strategically positioned in policy and operational roles were interviewed using semi-structured guides, while supplementary data were drawn from media reports and visual documentation of IndonesiaAos participation in major disaster responses, including Super Typhoon Haiyan .
and the Lombok earthquake .
Purposive sampling was applied to ensure information-rich sources and key informants (Sugiyono, 2.
The research was conducted in Jakarta.
Indonesia, focusing on strategic institutions engaged in defense diplomacy and disaster management, including BNPB, the Ministry of Defense.
TNI.
ASEAN Secretariat, and the AHA Centre.
Ethical safeguards were maintained through informed consent, anonymization of sensitive data, secure storage, and respondent validation of interpretations.
Although the reliance on purposive sampling and a limited number of informants may limit statistical generalization, the triangulation of documentary sources, interviews, and observations ensures validity, contextual depth, and transferability to similar regional contexts (Dunn, 2.
RESULTS
The research findings indicate that Southeast Asia is a region highly vulnerable to natural disasters.
Its geographical position on the Pacific Ring of Fire and tropical climate makes almost all types of disasters likely to occur.
Data from 2012Ae2020 shows that floods are the most dominant disasters, followed by strong winds, storms, landslides, and The impacts of disasters cover social, economic, and security dimensions, emphasizing the need for ASEAN to strengthen collective mechanisms.
In response.
ASEAN established the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER), which came into effect in 2009.
AADMER
provides a legal and regional cooperation framework for disaster coordination, mitigation, and response.
Indonesia plays a central role through the presence of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centr.
in Jakarta, as well as initiatives in joint exercises, disaster simulations, and technical training that strengthen regional capacity.
At the national level.
IndonesiaAos disaster management system is built on the synergy between BNPB.
TNI, the Ministry of Defense (Kemha.
, and the Ministry of International Journal of Humanities.
Education, and Social Sciences Oktaheroe Ramsi.
Anak Agung Banyu Perwita.
Yermia Hendarwoto Foreign Affairs (Keml.
BNPB acts as the focal point for coordination.
TNI supports field operations.
Kemhan formulates defense policies, while Kemlu manages multilateral This framework reflects IndonesiaAos defense diplomacy as a civil-military blend aimed at strengthening both national capacity and regional contributions.
However, implementation in the field faces several challenges summarized in the following Table 1.
Challenges in Disaster Management in ASEAN Challenge Aspect Description Interoperability Differences in standard operating procedures and communication systems among national agencies and across borders may hinder Logistics Limited resources and transportation capacity hinder the timely delivery of aid, especially in remote areas.
ASEAN member states remain cautious in cross-border operations.
Sensitivity of Indonesia, for instance, often rejects international assistance if it can National Sovereignty manage disasters independently.
Lengthy Procedures Bureaucratic procedures during emergencies often delay responses, despite the 'golden time' for disaster management being only about three days.
To address these challenges.
Indonesia maximizes defense diplomacy through joint exercises such as the ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise (ARDEX) and the ASEAN Defence MinistersAo Meeting-Plus on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (ADMM-Plus HADR).
These activities enhance interoperability and mutual trust among states.
Moreover.
Indonesia has positioned itself as a regional normative agent by promoting the principle of 'One ASEAN.
One Response' and proposing the establishment of an ASEAN First Responder.
IndonesiaAos defense diplomacy integrates AADMER.
SASOP.
ADMM-Plus, and the ASEAN Militaries Ready Group (AMRG) into a unified framework.
This civil-military synergy enables rapid, coordinated, and consensus-based responses while upholding state IndonesiaAos role in strengthening both national and regional capacities demonstrates its strategic commitment to the stability, security, and welfare of Southeast Asia.
Volume 3.
Issue 3, 2025 Oktaheroe Ramsi.
Anak Agung Banyu Perwita.
Yermia Hendarwoto
DISCUSSION
This study confirms that Indonesia's defense diplomacy strategy in promoting the formation of the ASEAN First Responder with AADMER as its legal basis is carried out through a soft power approach.
This can be understood through Joseph Nye's .
framework, which emphasizes influence based on values, reputation, and legitimacy rather than the use of military force.
Indonesia builds trust capital from regional leadership, active participation in the ADMM and ADMM-Plus forums, and consistency in prioritizing HADR in its policies.
In this case.
Indonesia's defense diplomacy is not only technical but also normative, namely encouraging the formation of a collective ASEAN preference for humanitarian responses based on civil-military cooperation.
Indonesia's active involvement in the ADMM-Plus Expert Working Group on HADR demonstrates its position as a norm entrepreneur in the region (RSIS, 2.
This role is manifested through negotiations to mainstream the AMRG SOP on HADR into the AADMER/SASOP, the organization of joint exercises as proof of concept, and information exchange with the AHA Center (ASEAN, 2.
The push for the formation of First Responders is important because it enables the rapid deployment of regional resources with standard procedures, while still respecting the principle of non-interference through a request-based deployment mechanism (ASEAN, 2.
This step helps reduce bureaucratic barriers, strengthen cross-sector interoperability, and realize the vision of AuOne ASEAN.
One ResponseAy (AHA Center, 2.
Thus.
Indonesia's defense diplomacy strategy has the potential to not only strengthen technical capacity, but also reinforce Indonesia's role as a normative leader in the region (Nye, 2011.
Perwita & Sarjito, 2.
These results are consistent with previous studies.
Nye .
emphasizes the importance of soft power in shaping collective behavior, while Pranomo .
and Sarjito & Perwita .
assert that Indonesia's defense diplomacy serves as an instrument of confidence-building measures that strengthen regional stability.
The ADMM-Plus HADR joint exercise in Yogyakarta .
is concrete evidence that the SOPs of AMRG.
MNCC, and JOCCA are beginning to be integrated into cross-border simulations (AHA Centre.
However, these results also confirm the challenges identified in previous studies.
Inouye .
notes the disparity in military capabilities among ASEAN countries that hinders effective task sharing, while Acharya .
highlights the sensitivity of sovereignty issues and the principle of non-interference that can slow down cross-border deployment.
International Journal of Humanities.
Education, and Social Sciences Oktaheroe Ramsi.
Anak Agung Banyu Perwita.
Yermia Hendarwoto even though AADMER has regulated a request-based deployment mechanism.
Technical barriers also remain significant, including language differences, military doctrines, command systems, and limited logistical interoperability.
Analysis of the frequency and scale of joint exercises shows that most have not yet reached the intensity necessary to ensure the smooth running of real operations (AHA Centre, 2.
The practical implication of these findings is that the ASEAN First Responder mechanism can strengthen regional resilience to non-traditional threats by emphasizing three key dimensions: resilience .
esilience in the face of disruptio.
, responsiveness .
peed and effectiveness of respons.
, and cohesion .
olitical and operational unity among AADMER provides a normative framework that enables the development of a rapid and coordinated response system supported by standardized procedures and resources (ASEAN, 2.
If effectively operationalized.
First Responders can reduce the response gap in the first 48 hours of a disaster, a period that often determines the scale of impact (AHA Centre, 2.
On the diplomatic front, this mechanism also strengthens ASEAN's image in the eyes of external partners and increases the confidence of countries such as Japan.
Australia, and the European Union in the region's capacity (RSIS, 2.
Thus.
First Responder is not merely a technical instrument, but also a form of soft power that strengthens ASEAN's legitimacy as a normative actor in the Indo-Pacific security However, this study also shows that there are significant structural and political Disparities in military and logistical capabilities between countries make it difficult to harmonize command and operational procedures.
Differences in language, rules of engagement, and military doctrine have the potential to slow down coordination in the The principle of non-interference also remains a major obstacle because cross-border deployment requires complex political approval (Acharya, 2.
In addition, budget constraints, differing domestic priorities, and dependence on external support from dialogue partners raise questions about the sustainability of this mechanism (RSIS, 2.
From a methodological perspective, this study is still limited to an analysis of literature.
ASEAN documents, and exercise reports, and therefore does not capture domestic political dynamics or the perspectives of practitioners in the field.
Thus, the success of the implementation of ASEAN First Responders will greatly depend on the political will of member states, clarity of operational mandates, and long- Volume 3.
Issue 3, 2025 Oktaheroe Ramsi.
Anak Agung Banyu Perwita.
Yermia Hendarwoto term investment in capacity building.
A collective commitment is needed to harmonize national SOPs with regional standards, strengthen cross-sectoral response units, and establish sustainable financing mechanisms.
Further research needs to be conducted using empirical approaches such as comparative case studies or interviews with policy actors and military officers involved in HADR operations.
This will complement the understanding of ASEAN's readiness to operationalize the First Responder as the foundation of a robust and adaptive non-traditional security architecture in Southeast Asia.
By placing the First Responder mechanism within the framework of soft power and defense diplomacy, this study contributes theoretically to the literature on international relations in Southeast Asia.
This study shows that defense diplomacy does not merely function as a technical military instrument, but also as a normative means to shape collective preferences, strengthen regional legitimacy, and promote regional solidarity.
These findings enrich the discourse on how soft power can be operationalized through non-traditional security mechanisms, while also affirming Indonesia's position as a normative leader in the Indo-Pacific security architecture.
Table 2.
Matrix of Potential and Challenges in Implementing the ASEAN First Responder Source: Author's analysis and summary Aspect Potential Challenge The integration of AADMER with Requires harmonization of mandates ADMM-Plus.
HADR, and AMRG can among institutions and forums.
Mechanism strengthen cross-sectoral coordination and which can take time and involve Integration accelerate disaster response (RSIS, 2024.
lengthy negotiations (Inouye APCSS.
ASEAN, 2.
As the initiator of the HADR agenda in Needs to balance leadership with ASEAN.
Indonesia has the opportunity to IndonesiaAos adequate operational capacity to become a norm entrepreneur in nonRole avoid skepticism from other member traditional security architecture (Pranomo.
Sarjito & Perwita, 2.
Differences in doctrine, language.
Joint civil-military exercises, strategic Confidence & and defense technology among states SOP Capacity can hinder the integration of Building command and logistics systems interoperability (AHA Centre, 2.
(ASEAN, 2.
ASEANAos Effective First Responder operations can Failure in rapid response or political Image and enhance ASEANAos image as a solid disagreements can undermine public Credibility regional humanitarian actor (Nye, 2.
and external partnersAo trust.
International Journal of Humanities.
Education, and Social Sciences Oktaheroe Ramsi.
Anak Agung Banyu Perwita.
Yermia Hendarwoto Aspect Potential Challenge Sensitivity to sovereignty and the Compliance A request-based deployment mechanism non-interference principle makes with ASEAN safeguards state sovereignty while allowing member states cautious about Principles for rapid assistance (ASEAN, 2.
deploying foreign troops in their territories (Inouye APCSS, 2.
CONCLUSION
Based on the analysis of disaster management frameworks in Southeast Asia, it can be concluded that while ASEAN has made significant progress through the establishment of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centr.
, these institutions still face fundamental challenges in functioning as autonomous and responsive first responders.
The response to the 2025 Myanmar earthquake demonstrated improved coordination compared to the 2004 Aceh tsunami, yet current mechanisms remain dependent on member statesAo initiatives and resources, constrained by the principle of non-interference, which can delay aid This study emphasizes that IndonesiaAos defense diplomacy serves as a strategic instrument to bridge the gap between rapid response needs and ASEANAos structural With strong civil-military capacity and extensive humanitarian experience.
Indonesia is well positioned to lead collective efforts to strengthen AADMER and the AHA Centre.
Defense diplomacy in this context is non-coercive, prioritizing soft power rooted in trust, solidarity, and interoperability.
Theoretically, the study contributes to the development of defense diplomacy as a tool of non-traditional security in the humanitarian domain.
It extends Joseph NyeAos soft power concept by framing Indonesia as a norm entrepreneur that promotes a new ASEAN norm: collective preparedness through civil-military cooperation in disaster response.
This aligns with IndonesiaAos trust capital, built via active participation in ADMM.
ADMM-Plus, and its consistent prioritization of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
To enhance first responder effectiveness.
Indonesia should advocate procedural reforms, harmonize national SOPs with SASOP and MNCC, expand joint exercises, and revise the AADMER Work Programme to include first responder modules.
By advancing Volume 3.
Issue 3, 2025 Oktaheroe Ramsi.
Anak Agung Banyu Perwita.
Yermia Hendarwoto cooperative sovereignty.
Indonesia not only strengthens ASEANAos disaster resilience but also its legitimacy as an inclusive, adaptive security community.
REFERENCES