Jakarta and Tokyo have signed a defence cooperation agreement, officials said, which includes cooperation in the defence industry, human development and disaster mitigation measures.
Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin signed the agreement with his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi in Jakarta.
“We have both agreed to promote substantive cooperation in the defence industry and development of our personnel, while taking into account our respective national interests,” Sjafrie said before the signing ceremony, in an audio recording shared by the Indonesian Defence Ministry.
Koizumi called the agreement a “compass” and “crucial milestone” that will guide defence cooperation between the two countries.
The ministers did not elaborate on exact areas of cooperation.
Japan scrapped a ban on overseas arms sales last month as the country seeks to strengthen its defence industry.
The ministers also held a bilateral meeting where they discussed collaboration on maritime security, joint military exercises, and military hardware and defence technology, Koizumi said.
“Amid an increasingly complex and tense international situation, such as in Iran, deepening defence cooperation between Japan and Indonesia... will make a significant contribution to peace and stability, not only for both countries but also for the region,” Koizumi said through a translator. — Reuters
