Vladimir Putin today signed a major arms deal on a visit to Indonesia, signalling Russia’s intent to extend its influence in another country with traditionally close links to the US.
The Russian president stopped over in Jakarta for a one-day visit, on his way to the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) group in Sydney.
The visit – the first to the country by a Russian or Soviet leader in more than half a century – saw Mr Putin formally agree a £500m credit arrangement for Indonesia, tied in with a deal for the country to purchase 15 helicopters, 20 tanks, and two submarines from Russia.
Indonesia (world’s most populous Muslim country) and Russia come closer together
Published September 6, 2007 Arms , Indonesia , Politics , Russia 4 Comments4 Responses to “Indonesia (world’s most populous Muslim country) and Russia come closer together”
- 1 Trackback on September 11, 2007 at 7:22 am
An arms deal is never a good thing. It still amazes me that the US, UK and Russia are still doing things like this. I wonder if any of those guns will eventually be aimed between Russian eyes…
Tim, you will never understand what its like being under estimed by another country just because you don’t have such a great power enough,some even think they can just grabe and claimed our territory, i hate war just like you do, but sometime,protec your self is the best defense
It is a sad but undeniable truth that the smaller countries who really would rather not make these deals end up doing them because of pressure from the US, UK and Isreali threats to their country. Russia really does not do much of these deals anymore. But recent times and situations is forcing a lot of muslim countries to look at russia in a different light.