Jabar Ekspres – Indonesia encourages increased defense cooperation with France so that it is not only limited to the sale and purchase of the main weapon system (alutsista), but also technology transfer, development and joint production of alutsista.
The invitation was conveyed during a 2+2 meeting between the Indonesian–French Foreign and Defense Ministers in Paris on Friday.
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Together with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
“This (cooperation) is important to build Indonesia’s strategic autonomy,” Retno said in a broadcast on MoFA Indonesia’s YouTube channel on Friday.
Retno said the cooperation was needed to make Indonesia part of the global supply chain for strategic industries.
“For that, I encourage the implementation of joint ventures and joint production cooperation between Thales and PT Len Industri,” she said.
Thales Group is a French multinational company that designs, develops and produces devices and tools in the fields of space, defense and security.
Meanwhile, PT Len Industri is a state-owned enterprise (BUMN) engaged in production, one of which is electronics for defense, both land, sea and air.
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At the 2+2 meeting, Retno also expressed Indonesia’s desire to cooperate in the field of maritime security, including technology transfer support and capacity building assistance by France to the Marine Security Agency (Bakamla RI).
In addition, Indonesia also encourages cooperation in the field of cybersecurity through cooperation between the State Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN) and the Thales defense industry.
