Japan to Provide High-Speed Patrol Boats to Indonesia
"2+2 Foreign and Defense Ministers' Meeting Expected Soon"
Japan and Indonesia held a summit and agreed to strengthen cooperation in defense equipment technology, energy security, and resource development.
At the Indonesian Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru (left) and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto shake hands ahead of a joint press conference. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
On the 11th (local time), according to Indonesia's Antara News Agency and Kyodo News, Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru held talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the presidential palace in Bogor, a satellite city south of Jakarta, Indonesia.
At the meeting, Prime Minister Ishiba pointed out that both countries share commonalities as island nations with economies dependent on trade, stating, "Both countries are situated between major powers like the United States and China, so it is necessary to pay attention to balancing foreign policy." President Prabowo also emphasized Japan as an important partner and welcomed Japan's participation in fostering Indonesia's natural resource industries.
At the joint press conference following the summit, Prime Minister Ishiba announced, "We have agreed to establish working-level defense consultations on maritime security, including cooperation in defense equipment technology," and added, "As the first official security support, we have decided to provide Indonesia with high-speed patrol boats." He also stated that the two countries agreed to cooperate in strengthening defense capabilities, energy security, natural resource development, and food security.
Prior to the meeting, Japan and Indonesia held a defense ministers' meeting and resumed discussions on exporting Japanese escort ships to Indonesia through joint development of escort ships. Kyodo News reported that this summit is expected to lead to a '2+2 meeting' soon, where the foreign and defense ministers of both countries will meet together.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ishiba visited Malaysia, the ASEAN chair country this year, on the 9th and met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the 10th. This is the first foreign visit by Prime Minister Ishiba, who took office in October last year, for the purpose of bilateral diplomacy.
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