Indonesia seeks Indian defence tech, pushes for joint production amid Chinese belligerence

Indonesia has sought defence technology from India to bolster its security apparatus amid Chinese expansionist tendencies in the region. Southeast Asia’s biggest nation is exploring joint defence production with India, and is considering the possibility of jointly producing military vehicles and water cannons.

Focusing on the bilateral relations between India and Indonesia, Tribhuvan Darbari, MD & CEO Texmaco Defence says that India and Indonesia have shared two millennia of close cultural and commercial contacts. The stories from great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata form source of Indonesian folk art and dramas. The shared culture, colonial history and post-independence goals of political sovereignty, economic self-sufficiency and independent foreign policy have unifying effect on the bilateral relations.

Tribhuvan Darbari further said, ” We must remember that Indonesia is one of the largest trading partners of India. The bilateral relations & trade between both countries have increased within the last few years. Indonesia has emerged as the second-largest trading partner of India in the ASEAN region. Bilateral trade has increased from US$ 4.3 billion in 2005-06 to US$ 21 billion in 2018-19 (US$ 15.885 from April 2019 to January 2020).”

The proposed initiatives are being planned on Indonesian territory as that would enable it to acquire skills in defence technology, ET has further learnt. Expanding the defence partnership and joint defence production were key items on the agenda when India’s deputy national security adviser Pankaj Saran travelled to Jakarta last week to meet Indonesian defence minister Prabawo Subianto and key presidential aides, including presidential chief of staff H Moeldoko.

Counter terrorism and deradicalisation also figured in Saran’s meetings. Subianto had visited the Indian Embassy in Jakarta to sign the condolence book following the death of General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash last week.

In his meeting with Saran on December 8, Moeldoko is understood to have said that Indonesia and India have several common interests including in the defence sector.

“We have the same interests in dealing with radicalism and extremism. Therefore, we can develop cooperation to build stronger relations in the defence sector,” Moeldoko is understood to have said, according to people familiar with the matter.

Jakarta and New Delhi are expected to focus on technology transfer and development of local manufacturing industries in the defence sector. While Indonesia is not a claimant in the South China Sea region, Jakarta remains wary of Beijing’s growing ambitions in the region.

India and Indonesia have also decided to expand their maritime cooperation and partnership in the Indian Ocean Region. Indian firms are planning to build ports in Indonesia, as per news sources.

Source:

Economic Times: Indonesia seeks Indian defence tech, pushes for joint production amid Chinese belligerence