Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu says extremist groups such as Islamic State (IS) "are our common enemy" and working with Muslim communities is important to tackling the radicalisation threat.

"[IS] is our common enemy and we have to take a kind of common action to tackle and eradicate this enemy," he told The World program.

While Mr Ryacudu refused to comment on whether the Indonesian Government supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, he said Syria was not the "enemy".

"Syria is a country comprised of people, good people, but Islamic State is our common enemy and between us we have to eradicate this terrorist group," he said.

"Islam is pure and is supposed to teach love and peace. We need to try to propagate the true Islamic teaching throughout the global Muslim community.

"It's also up to the clerics and the Islamic leaders to ensure they understand the teachings of Islam and that's the strategy that we're trying to implement in Indonesia."

Mr Ryacudu, seen here with Australian counterpart Marise Payne, says defence relations have to be strong. ( Reuters: Jason Reed )

Mr Ryacudu said Indonesia would support the US led coalition if it tried to eradicate IS with a military approach.

However, he cautioned that countries needed to find a peaceful and constructive way to solve the political issues facing Syria.

Closer to home, Mr Ryacudu said the defence relationship between Australia and Indonesia has had its "ups and downs".

"It used to be that the military was the instrument of politics but at the moment the military forces, and as a result our defence relations, have to be the instrument for peace.

"My approach is that despite what's happening in politics between Australia and Indonesia, the defence relations have to remain strong and stable."

Mr Ryacudu described the relationship shared between the two sides as a "bridge to reconciliation, bridging the relationship between the two countries".

"We can learn from previous problems between Australia and Indonesia but it shouldn't happen again," he said.