Japan, Indonesia weigh joint development of Naval Ship

Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani (3rd from left) holds talks with his Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in Jakarta on Jan. 7, 2025

Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani and his Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin on Tuesday discussed the possible joint development of a naval ship as the two countries aim to strengthen their maritime security cooperation.

A new vessel could be modelled after a destroyer of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force, according to a Japanese government official.

The Japanese and Indonesian governments had discussed the joint development for several years.

But talks were stalled under the administration of former President Joko Widodo as his government focused more on relocating the national capital from Jakarta on Java to Nusantara in Borneo.

Exports of destroyers are restricted under Japan’s Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology but are allowed when they are jointly developed and manufactured with another nation.