Russia and Indonesia Sign Defence Deal

President Jokowii speaks with President Putin during a meeting in Sochi.

Sochi, 11 Sya’ban 1437/19 May 2016 (MINA) – The presidents of Russia and Indonesia have signed an agreement to cooperate in the defence sector, as Moscow seeks to cement its ties with Asian powerhouses amid Western sanctions.

Full details of the deal, signed by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Indonesia’s Joko Widodo on Wednesday at a meeting in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, were not immediately available, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) reported, quoting AAP.

“We have agreed to widen contacts between defence ministries and security agencies,” Putin said at joint briefing with Widodo.

Indonesia’s president said Russia and Indonesia also agreed on exchanges of intelligence information.

Earlier on Wednesday, the head of Russia’s arms export agency Alexander Fomin said that Russia would like to produce military munitions in Indonesia, including shells.

He added that Indonesia was interested in Russian submarines and jets, “however, Russia has rivals, such as United States and China”.

On Tuesday, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Russia would sign deals with Indonesia to supply unspecified arms and for ammunition to be manufactured under licence.

Russia, the world’s second-largest arms exporter after the United States, plans to sell arms worth $US14 billion ($A19.10 billion) this year.

Russia’s total portfolio of arms orders currently stands at more than $US50 billion. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)