inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Indonesian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Nasir highlighted the emergence of new threats in their efforts to improve water security.
"A new, underestimated threat is emerging," said Armanatha on Thursday (5/28/2026).
He stated that these new threats include critical mineral mining, AI infrastructure, data centers, and the digital industry, which now consume billions of liters of water daily. And the demand for these sectors, he said, is doubling every few years.
According to him, water is an invisible resource that drives the digital economy. If strategic management fails, water will become a major global crisis.
"Furthermore, the multilateral system that the international community relies on to address this crisis is itself in crisis," adds Armanatha.
Therefore, he believes that current UN reforms need to focus on addressing the threat of the water crisis.
He emphasized that Indonesia fully recognizes the seriousness of the challenges it faces with the international community. Indonesia will also continue to strive to lead action by setting an example, both at the regional and global levels.
Since the 10th World Water Forum in Bali in 2024, Indonesia has established a Center of Excellence for Water and Climate Resilience.
In the past two years, Indonesia has provided capacity-building training on water and climate resilience to more than 2,000 individuals from over 40 countries across the Asia-Pacific.
Indonesia also spearheaded the UN General Assembly Resolution on World Lakes Day, which champions the protection of lake ecosystems globally.
Indonesia has positioned water infrastructure as a strategic national financing hub, including through the sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, to unlock multiplier effects across various sectors.
In this context, Armanatha issued four calls to advance the implementation of Indonesia's commitment to water: First, the need to strengthen regional cooperation in the water sector.
Second, the need to increase strategic investment in the water sector as a foundation for development. Third, the need to prepare water governance for the future in the era of AI and the digital economy.
And fourth, the need to actively promote UN reforms so that it has the authority, resources, and equity to truly address water issues.
"The world has knowledge, capital, and technology. What's lacking is collective political will and a multilateral system that's effective and bold enough to accelerate action on water issues," he explained.
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