Indonesia Encourages Alutsista Production Cooperation With France

JAKARTA - Indonesia encourages increased defense cooperation with France so that it is not only limited to buying and selling main weapons systems (alutsista), but also technology transfer, development and production with defense equipment.

The invitation was conveyed in a 2+2 meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia-France in Paris as reported by ANTARA, Friday, July 21.

Together with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, 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," said Retno in a broadcast broadcast on YouTube MoFA Indonesia.

Retno said that this cooperation was needed to make Indonesia part of the global supply chain for strategic industries.

"For that, I encourage the implementation of venture joint ventures and joint production between Thales and PT LenIndustri," he said.

Thales Group is a French multinational company that designs, develops and produces devices and tools in the space, defense and security sectors.

Meanwhile, PT LenIndustri is a state-owned enterprise (BUMN) engaged in production, one of which is electronics for defense, both land, sea and air.

At the 2+2 meeting, Retno also conveyed Indonesia's desire to cooperate in the maritime security sector, including support for technology transfer and capacity development assistance by France to the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla RI).

In addition, Indonesia also encourages cooperation in cybersecurity through the cooperation of the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN) with the Thales defense industry.