Indonesia Awaiting US Lifting Sanction on Buying Russian Shukoi Aircraft

Jakarta, MINA –The Indonesian Government is awaiting the United States lifting the embargo sanction on the Indonesian plan to buy Sukhoi Su-35 war planes from Russia, Antara News reported, quoting a government official..

“Indonesia is in the position of awaiting the US lifting the sanction,” Coordinating Minister for Law, Security and Political Affairs Wiranto when holding a coordination meeting on the procurement of SU-35 fighter aircraft and the program to develop Korean Fighter eXperiment/Indonesian Fighter eXperiment (KFX-IFX), here on Friday.

Attending the meeting also included Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, Indonesian Military Inspector General Lt.Gen. Muhammad Herindra, and Deputy Air Force Chief of Staff Air Force Lt.Gen. Wieko Syofyan.

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US President Donald Trump in August 2017 signed a law Countering America`s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) that regulated sanctions on countries buying heavy military equipment from Russia.

However, in July, 2018 , US Secretary of Defense James Norman Mattis asked the Congress for relaxation of the regulation.

Wiranto said the sanction, which was issued by Donald Trump, is general in nature and relaxation of the sanction will likely be given to three countries.

“There is a statement that most likely sanction on the three countries – Indonesia, India, and Vietnam – would be lifted. That is why we are awaiting. This press conference must not precede something not yet clear. I choose to be careful to say something that might not exist to the public,” the former chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces said.

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He said he chose not to risk facing the consequence by going ahead buying the Russian aircraft.

Wiranto said he positively welcomed the US government policy asking for relaxation and the lifting of the sanction.

He said the plan to buy 11 units of the Russian fighter jet of 4.5 Generation to cost US$1.14 billion, is to replace outdated F-5 Tiger aircraft.

Under bilateral agreement between Indonesia and Russia payment for the fighter jets is on barter with commodities such as coffee, palm oil, tea and other agricultural products.

State-owned trading company PT Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia and Rostec (Russian state company) already signed a memorandum of understanding in Moscow in August, 2017 with Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita witnessing. (T/RS5/RS1)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)