Indonesia and Czech Republic Strengthen Defense Cooperation
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing defense cooperation between Indonesia and the Czech Republic during a meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Brigadier General Frega Ferdinand Wenas Inkiriwang, Head of the Information Bureau of the Ministry of Defense, stated that the discussions included the renewal of the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA), which is set to expire in 2023. “Minister Černochová’s visit also includes discussions on renewing the existing DCA,” he said.
The Czech Republic is recognized as a producer of high-quality and cost-effective main weapons systems. The two nations explored new avenues of collaboration beyond their established defense cooperation, which has been in place since 2006 and includes the procurement of defense equipment, military technology transfers, and other military-related agreements.
The meeting also emphasized potential partnerships in education and military training, with particular interest in expanding ties through the Defense University. “The Czech Republic has a Defense University, presenting further opportunities for defense cooperation in academic and professional military education,” Inkiriwang noted.
Given the diplomatic nature of the negotiations, the Foreign Affairs Ministry is actively involved in discussions. “This requires contributions at a higher level, including from President Prabowo Subianto. The duration of the DCA negotiations remains uncertain and could take between five months to a year to conclude,” he added.
Both sides expressed optimism about reaching an agreement soon, given their shared understanding of the importance of defense collaboration. “The relationship between Indonesia and the Czech Republic has been long-standing, and we hope to continue building upon this strong foundation,” Inkiriwang concluded.
