VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Mrs Lyudmila Vorobieva, at a press conference at her home in Jakarta on Wednesday (12/2), said she was optimistic about upcoming Indonesia-Russia defense dealings, which would include a navy force training program and 100 navy ships commissioned from Russia. The program, which was agreed amidst the two country’s 70^th anniversary celebrations of their relations, was signed off after meetings between Russian and Indonesian defense delegates.

“As I always say, Indonesia is our friend, and we want our friends to have the best. We produce all kind of equipment, any kind. Any kind of equipment Indonesia has, we can supply, but we respect the right of Indonesia to choose from who and what they buy,” the Ambassador said.

The countries have a long history of defense relations, with past deals centring around Indonesia’s arms purchases from Russia. Indonesia’s current efforts to improve their defense forces aim to safeguard their valuable territorial waters, such as the Malacca Strait, a major trade route in the Asia-Pacific under Indonesian administration. Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobieva said she was excited for future deals between her country and Indonesia, particularly with furthering defense agreements alongside goods trading such as Indonesian palm oil imports to Russia.

“We just want to have cooperation that makes both of our countries stronger,” Ambassador Vorobieva said. (VOI/Laura Green)