Italy Reportedly to Donate Aircraft Carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi to Indonesia

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia – The Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi will be acquired by Indonesia through a grant scheme. The Head of Public Relations and Defense Information at the Ministry of Defense’s Secretariat General, Brig. Gen. Rico Ricardo Sirait, said the administrative process and intergovernmental cooperation between Indonesia and Italy are still ongoing.

“The information we can confirm is that the vessel is part of a grant scheme from the Italian Government,” Rico said when contacted on Friday (2/13).

Ricardo said that although the aircraft carrier is being obtained as a grant, there are still costs that the Ministry of Defense must cover. He said the budget support is for retrofit needs and technical adjustments to meet the operational requirements of the Indonesian Navy.

“The budget prepared by the Indonesian government is allocated for retrofit or adjustment needs to suit Indonesian Navy operational requirements,” he said.

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali previously stated that negotiations to acquire the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi are still underway.

“The negotiation process is still ongoing between the Indonesian Navy and the Italian Navy, with Fincantieri as the manufacturer, and the Ministry of Defense,” he said.

Ali expressed hope that the negotiation process will go smoothly and that the aircraft carrier can arrive in Indonesia before the Armed Forces anniversary in October.

“The hope is that it can reach Indonesia before the Armed Forces anniversary,” he said.