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South Korea, Indonesia Boost Defense Ties with Fighter Jet Deal & Summit

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held summit talks in Seoul, focusing on deepening bilateral defense industry cooperation. A key agenda item is the planned export of 16 indigenously developed KF-21 fighter jets to Indonesia, which would be South Korea's first overseas sale of such aircraft. The leaders also discussed strengthening South Korea's relations with ASEAN and broader global security issues. President Lee honored Prabowo with South Korea's highest state award, recognizing his contributions to strengthening ties between the two nations.

Key Points: S. Korea, Indonesia Summit: KF-21 Jet Deal & Defense Cooperation

  • KF-21 fighter jet export deal
  • Strengthening ASEAN-S. Korea relations
  • Strategic partnership recognition
  • Defense industry & tech transfer
  • High-level diplomatic honors
2 min read

South Korea: Lee, Indonesia's Prabowo hold summit talks with eye on defence cooperation

Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Prabowo Subianto meet to expand defense ties, focusing on KF-21 fighter jet exports and ASEAN relations.

"model example of global defense cooperation - President Lee Jae Myung on KF-21 project"

Seoul, April 1

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held summit talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday to discuss bilateral ties, with defense industry cooperation expected to be high on the agenda.

Prabowo arrived in Seoul on Tuesday for a three-day state visit for his second meeting with Lee, following their talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea last year.

The talks are expected to focus on expanding defense industry cooperation, particularly the joint development of the KF-21 fighter jet, which Lee has described as a "model example" of global defense cooperation.

South Korea plans to sign a deal to export 16 KF-21 jets to Indonesia, which would mark the country's first overseas sale of indigenous fighter jets.

They are also expected to discuss ways to strengthen South Korea's relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), along with broader security and global issues, including the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.

Indonesia, a key ASEAN member with the world's fourth-largest population and abundant natural resources, is considered a strategic partner for South Korea, Yonhap news agency reported.

During their meeting, Lee plans to award Prabowo the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Korea's highest honor, in recognition of his contributions to strengthening bilateral ties, including support for Korean companies operating in the Southeast Asian nation, Kang said.

He will also present Prabowo with a traditional Korean bow set and a martial arts book from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), reflecting the Indonesian president's strong interest in martial arts, shaped by his background as a former Army general and defense minister, she added.

Seoul and Jakarta initially formed a partnership to develop the fighter jet in 2015, with Jakarta agreeing to fund around 20 per cent of the project in exchange for technology transfer. But payments were repeatedly delayed, and the two sides later agreed to reduce Indonesia's contribution to one-third of the initial amount and lower the level of technology transfer.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Interesting to see the focus on technology transfer, even if it was scaled back. The initial delays from Indonesia's side show how complex such deals can be. Hope the final agreement is beneficial for both. South Korea's defence industry is really expanding its global footprint.
R
Rohit P
While this is good for regional stability, I hope our government is watching closely. Stronger defence ties in Southeast Asia can impact the broader security architecture. India's 'Act East' policy needs to engage with both Korea and Indonesia actively. The martial arts gift was a nice diplomatic touch!
S
Sarah B
As an expat in India, I find this fascinating. The article mentions Indonesia's large population and resources – it's clearly a market South Korea wants to tap. The economic angle is as important as the defence one. Joint development is the future for expensive military tech.
V
Vikram M
The KF-21 deal is a model, but the payment delays show the risks. India has had its own challenges with defence partnerships. The key is sustained commitment. Hope this deal strengthens ASEAN-Korea ties, which is good for the whole Indo-Pacific region.
K
Kavya N
Respectfully, while this summit is important, I wish our media gave similar coverage to India's own defence diplomacy. We have strong ties with both countries. Let's not just observe, but learn and adapt what works for our strategic interests. The focus should be on our indigenous capabilities too.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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