Japan to begin discussions on exporting warships to Indonesia

Tokyo (ANTARA) - 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 this agreement during talks in Tokyo on Friday, according to the Japanese Ministry of Defence.

Japan has been working to deepen cooperation in defence equipment, including with security partners such as the Philippines and New Zealand, since easing restrictions on the export of lethal weapons in April. During the meeting, Sjafrie expressed Indonesia’s intention to advance cooperation in 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 is currently utilised as a training vessel. The 3,500-tonne vessel, measuring 137 metres in length, visited Indonesia in early 2023 as part of a diplomatic mission.