The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation recently held a Maritime Sanctions Enforcement Workshop in Jakarta from November 18 to 20. The event was organized through the Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction and included experts from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. It brought together 25 officials from Indonesian maritime agencies and 50 representatives from the private sector to focus on improving enforcement skills and cooperation among agencies.
Ransom Avilla, Regional Advisor for the Office of Export Control and Border Security at the U.S. Embassy Jakarta, opened the workshop by explaining sanctions, their role in international security, and methods used to evade them. Attendees participated in tabletop exercises that simulated scenarios involving sanctions evasion, with an emphasis on using current legal authorities, enforcement procedures, and interagency collaboration.
Nicole Rothenberg, Program Manager for the Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction, stated: “This workshop underscores the United States’ commitment to working with Indonesia to strengthen maritime security and enforce international sanctions. By enhancing enforcement capabilities and fostering interagency collaboration, we are taking critical steps to disrupt illicit activities and safeguard regional and global security.”
The United States continues its support for Indonesia and other partner countries in efforts to prevent sanctioned entities from acquiring sensitive materials or technologies. These initiatives are intended to improve both regional and global security.