Japan Gives Green Light for Warship Export Talks with Indonesia

The governments of Japan and Indonesia have agreed to begin discussions regarding the potential export of Asagiri-class destroyers to Jakarta. Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin reached the agreement during talks in Tokyo on Friday (5/6), according to a statement from Japan’s Ministry of Defence. Japan has sought to deepen defence equipment cooperation, including with security partners such as the Philippines and New Zealand, since easing restrictions on lethal arms exports in April. During the meeting, Sjafrie conveyed Indonesia’s intention to advance cooperation on defence equipment and technology, including the potential transfer of multi-purpose destroyers from the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, the ministry stated. The two ministers subsequently agreed to discuss this cooperation through a working-level framework established last month. The Asagiri is a destroyer belonging to the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force that currently serves as a training vessel. The 3,500-tonne ship, measuring 137 metres in length, visited Indonesia in early 2023 on a diplomatic mission.