Indonesia, Russia to sign defense deals
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Indonesia, Russia to sign defense deals
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesia was set to sign a $1 billion defense deal with Russia on Thursday that will enable it to purchase dozens of helicopters, tanks and submarines over the next 15 years, a government spokesman said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, making a one-day stopover to the world's fourth most populous country, will also witness billions of dollars in agreements that will help Indonesia revamp its aging mining and oil facilities, said Dino Pati Djalal.
Putin's visit to Indonesia is the first by a Russian - or Soviet - president in nearly five decades and signals a desire to strengthen bilateral ties to counterbalance the United States' growing influence on global politics, analysts say.
The Russian president stopped in Jakarta on his way to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in Australia.
Indonesia has been looking for other sources of arms since Washington - formerly its largest supplier of weaponry - cut military ties in 1999 over human rights concerns. The ban was lifted in 2005, but Jakarta continues to look elsewhere for affordable military hardware.
The Indonesians have already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on Russian fighter jets.
The agreement Thursday will include the purchase of 15 helicopters, 20 tanks, and two submarines, payable by loan over the next 15 years, said Defense Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Edi Butar Butar.
Indonesian mining company Aneka Tambang will sign a $3 billion deal with Russian aluminum giant United Company Rusal, while state-owned oil company Pertamina plans to sign a US$1 billion agreement with one of Russia's biggest oil companies, Lukoil, said Djalal
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesia was set to sign a $1 billion defense deal with Russia on Thursday that will enable it to purchase dozens of helicopters, tanks and submarines over the next 15 years, a government spokesman said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, making a one-day stopover to the world's fourth most populous country, will also witness billions of dollars in agreements that will help Indonesia revamp its aging mining and oil facilities, said Dino Pati Djalal.
Putin's visit to Indonesia is the first by a Russian - or Soviet - president in nearly five decades and signals a desire to strengthen bilateral ties to counterbalance the United States' growing influence on global politics, analysts say.
The Russian president stopped in Jakarta on his way to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in Australia.
Indonesia has been looking for other sources of arms since Washington - formerly its largest supplier of weaponry - cut military ties in 1999 over human rights concerns. The ban was lifted in 2005, but Jakarta continues to look elsewhere for affordable military hardware.
The Indonesians have already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on Russian fighter jets.
The agreement Thursday will include the purchase of 15 helicopters, 20 tanks, and two submarines, payable by loan over the next 15 years, said Defense Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Edi Butar Butar.
Indonesian mining company Aneka Tambang will sign a $3 billion deal with Russian aluminum giant United Company Rusal, while state-owned oil company Pertamina plans to sign a US$1 billion agreement with one of Russia's biggest oil companies, Lukoil, said Djalal
