Indonesia will order 42 Rafale fighter jets, the French defense minister said on Thursday, after the two countries signed a series of agreements including the development of submarines and the construction of ammunition.
“It’s official: Indonesia orders 42 Rafale,” Defense Minister Florence Parley tweeted during a visit to the Southeast Asian country.
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry secretariat confirmed in a statement that agreements had been signed with France, but did not mention Rafale or any details of the agreements.
The order will make Indonesia the second country in the Indo-Pacific region after India to build on the jet produced by Dassault Aviation.
Dassault Aviation said the deal marked the start of a long-term partnership and would allow it to rapidly strengthen its presence in Indonesia. Its shares rose around 4% after the news of the agreement.
Indonesia’s state-run Antara news agency quoted the country’s defense minister as saying the deal was for six Rafale aircraft, with 36 following.
The deal comes as Paris, which sees itself as a world naval power, seeks to expand geopolitical ties in the Indo-Pacific after the United States, Britain and Australia formed a new strategic alliance last year with the US which provides for Australia’s nuclear submarine equipment.
The issue is sensitive for France after the cancellation by Australia of a multi-billion dollar submarine agreement last year with Paris, which accused its allies of backstabbing.
Parley said on Thursday that Indonesia was committed “to working with our submarine industry”.
“Our strategic cooperation will benefit from the deepening of our defense relations,” he added.
Indonesia has also expressed concern about AUKUS, wary that the use of nuclear-powered submarines could increase geopolitical tensions in Southeast Asia, an area where China has significant influence. Indonesia’s defense minister, however, said he understood why the alliance was formed.
Source: Capital
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