UK to build frigate in Indonesia’s Surabaya, strengthen bilateral defense cooperation

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Britain will build a frigate at the ship manufacturing facility owned by the Indonesian state-owned company PT PAL in Surabaya, East Java province.

It was conveyed by British Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss when delivering a joint press statement with her Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi, here on Thursday (Nov. 11).

“Two weeks ago a British carrier strike group visited Jakarta and next year a British-designed frigate will be built in Surabaya. This is part of our extensive defense cooperation,” Truss said.

In her statement she also emphasized that the British government wants to deepen cooperation in the field of maritime security with Indonesia.

“We also launched a new joint working group for counter terrorism and cyber dialogue,” Secretary Truss said when presenting the results of her meeting with Minister Retno, during her first visit since taking office in September this year.

Defense cooperation between Indonesia and the UK is one of the efforts to maintain security and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region.

“We are delighted to be ASEAN’s new dialogue partner, and we have discussed how the UK could deepen cooperation across the region,” Truss said.

Reporting by Indonesia Window