TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have officially signed a defense cooperation yesterday, at the Ministry of Defense office, Jakarta. The agreement was signed by Saudi Defense Deputy Minister Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and Indonesian Defense Deputy Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoedin.
"This is the first defense cooperation between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia since diplomatic relations began in the 1950s," Sjafrie told Tempo yesterday. In his less-than-24-hour visit, Prince Salman visited Ministry of Defense, Special Forces Command Headquarter and Halim Perdanakusuma Army Base.
The agreement includes collaboration in research and transfer of technology in primary weapon defense system (alutsista), special military forces training in handling terrors, and cooperation in disaster mitigation. Sjafrie said Saudi Arabia also has a promising technology for developing weapon system. "For that, we will cooperate in alutsista research and development."
Prince Salman also took the time to see the Indonesian National Forces' domestic-produced weapon system such as Anoa from PT Pindad at Kopassus Headquarter and CN-295 from PT Dirgantara Indonesia and Airbus Military.
SUBKHAN