Japan adds Indonesia to ‘network of navies’ after Australia, Philippines
By exporting warships, analysts say Tokyo is sidestepping military pacts to bind partners through shared hardware
Yet for years the nation’s navy has lacked the subsurface awareness to monitor, let alone counter, what moves beneath the waves.
A working-level framework established in May is set to guide discussions on training, maintenance and operational integration.
Koizumi reportedly said afterwards that the transfer of destroyers “will expand substantive collaboration”, describing it as “a solid step towards contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region”.
Sjafrie, for his part, expressed a desire to formalise and “give concrete shape” to defence equipment cooperation with Japan, specifically through the transfer of the decommissioned Asagiri-class destroyers.