Indonesia and Japan signed a new defense cooperation agreement on Monday, marking the possibility of Japan selling arms to Indonesia.
Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto held bilateral talks with visiting Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, and they jointly signed the defense cooperation agreement.
Indonesian Defense Ministry spokesperson Djoko Ryo said the agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in humanitarian aid, disaster relief, maritime security, and joint military exercises.
Ryo also stated that the agreement “also opens up new opportunities for the two countries to cooperate in the fields of defense equipment and technology.”
According to The Jakarta Globe, before signing the agreement, Prabowo told reporters that this document can strengthen cooperation between the two sides that is based on “mutual respect and mutual benefit.” “We have agreed to greatly enhance cooperation in the defense industry sector.”
He pointed out that both sides will establish a closer partnership in personnel training while “taking into account each country's national interests.”
Shinjiro Koizumi said that in light of the current war in the Middle East, strengthening defense relations through the new agreement is very necessary under today's circumstances. “We are both maritime nations, sharing the same values. Therefore, working together will not only greatly promote the defense and peace of our two countries, but will also benefit the entire region.”
The Japanese government last month relaxed its decades-old arms export controls, allowing the sale of lethal weapons to countries that have signed defense cooperation agreements with Japan. Although neither Japan nor Indonesia specified in the press conference the exact types of weapons Indonesia will purchase, Deutsche Welle recently reported Indonesia has shown strong interest in Japan's Oyashio-class submarines.
In addition to Indonesia, the Philippines is also interested in six soon-to-be-retired Abukuma-class destroyers from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.