Indonesia doesn’t refuse from purchasing Russian su-35, however, the redistribution of budget funds in connection with the pandemic coronavirus, as well as the sanctions policy of the USA do not allow you to complete the transaction. This writes in Wednesday newspaper The Jakarta Post.
Visit of the Minister of defence of Indonesia, a Prabowo Subianto in Moscow as the guest of honor of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the great Patriotic war, said deep level of cooperation between the two countries in the defense sector, despite the lack of progress on the procurement of Jakarta, the Russian fighters, the publication. The newspaper reminds that the June visit was the second trip of Prabowo Subianto in Moscow for the last six months.
Despite the warming of relations between the two countries, questions remain about the implementation of the signed in 2018 purchase agreement in the amount of $1.1 billion 11 su-35, said The Jakarta Post. In particular, it States in the article that the redistribution of budget funds due to pandemic coronavirus, as well as uncertainty of the US position on this deal. Expert on defense industry from the University of binus Curie Maharani believes that "Prabowo may lobby for the liberation of Indonesia from the list of countries at risk of consequences for violating the law CAATSA ("On counteraction to enemies of America by sanctions")". The other option, in her opinion, "may be the expectation of changing the situation in the United States after the presidential elections".
"Indonesia has stepped up relations with Russia with the coming to power of President Megawati Soekarnoputri (2001 – 2004), Jakarta has begun a way from the most simple buyer of Russian weapons, and now Moscow is open for cooperation in the perspective of the military industry", – said the analyst.
On signing of the contract with Jakarta for the supply of 11 su-35 became known in early 2018, but because of U.S. sanctions to date, its implementation has not begun. In July 2019 the Ambassador of Indonesia Mohamad Wahid Supriadi said that the delay associated with the complexity of the trading scheme, which involved government agencies and companies. In October last year, the head of the Federal service for military-technical cooperation (FSMTC) Dmitry Shugaev said that the Russian side hopes for adoption in the foreseeable future, decisions on the execution of the contract on delivery of Indonesia of the fighters su-35.
