Indonesia Calls for Enhanced Cooperation and Verification Under Biological Weapons Convention

Jenewa: Indonesia reiterated its commitment to strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) during the Sixth Meeting of the Working Group on Strengthening the BWC, held at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, from August 11–22, 2025.

The Convention, which has been in force since 1975, remains a vital instrument in preventing the use of biological weapons. However, the BWC still lacks mechanisms for international cooperation, science and technology review, as well as a verification regime to ensure compliance. With rapid advancements in science and technology, the BWC must continue to be strengthened to remain relevant.

The Indonesian delegation was led by Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Permanent Mission of Indonesia in Geneva, Ambassador Achsanul Habib, accompanied by Assistant Deputy for Multilateral Cooperation of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Adi Winarso, along with representatives from the Coordinating Ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent Mission in Geneva.

Indonesia delivered views on a wide range of agenda items, including international cooperation, scientific and technological developments, transparency and confidence-building measures, compliance and verification, as well as national implementation.

Indonesia also served as one of the facilitators on national implementation, assisting the Chair of the Working Group in drafting recommendations covering the strengthening of national regulations, capacity building, and technical support at the international level.

“National implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention is an ongoing process that must be tailored to each country’s context. There is no one-size-fits-all model, but incremental improvements supported by international cooperation will enhance global biosecurity. Ultimately, the effectiveness of implementation will depend on political will and the depth of multilateral collaboration,” said Ambassador Achsanul Habib, in a statement from the Indonesian Mission in Geneva received on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.

The two-week meeting concluded with the adoption of a procedural report by consensus—a milestone reflecting common ground despite differing views. The outcome serves as an important momentum to advance toward the next Working Group meeting and the Meeting of States Parties in December 2025, as well as the BWC Review Conference in 2027.

Indonesia’s participation in this process aligns with its national commitment to contribute to international peace and security, while reinforcing disarmament and non-proliferation efforts at the global level. This step is also consistent with the Asta Cita, particularly point two on strengthening national resilience and defense, and point four on enhancing Indonesia’s independent and active foreign policy and diplomacy for world peace.

The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) is a multilateral treaty that prohibits the development, production, and stockpiling of biological weapons and toxins. It entered into force in 1975 and currently has 189 States Parties. Indonesia ratified the BWC in 1992.