US Defense Secretary Guarantees RI Regardless of Sanctions for Purchasing Sukhoi Aircraft

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - US Defense Secretary James Norman Mattis guarantees that Indonesia will not be subject to embargo sanctions on the purchase of major weapons systems from Russia, including the Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet.

Mattis will continue to convince Congress to release some strategic partners of the United States to buy weapons from Russia without being sanctioned in relation to the Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) Countering Act adopted by the Uncle Sam country starting last year, said one of the points presented at the Defense Minister meeting. RI Ryamizard Ryacudu with his US Secretary of Defense James Mattis in Washington DC on Tuesday local time (08/28/2018)

Official information received by Antara, Wednesday (08/29/2018) states that three countries that will not be subject to CAATSA sanctions are Indonesia, India and Vietnam.

CAATSA was authorized to punish Russia for its interference in elections and its involvement in Ukraine. Part of the bill will sanction countries that do business with the Russian defense industry.

Earlier, Defense Minister Mattis had asked Congress to provide sanctions relief to countries that have historically had relations with Russia but are now leaning toward America to buy defense equipment, namely India, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Responding to that Defense Minister Ryamizard expressed his gratitude for James Mattis's efforts to convince Congress not to sanction Indonesia.

Ryamizard said the process of purchasing the Sukhoi Su-35 had been going on long before CAATSA was put into effect. "I express my gratitude for being able to convince Congress to free Indonesia from sanctions for the purchase of a major weapon system from Russia," he said.

He added, "In the future Indonesia plans to buy several defense equipment from the US such as C-130 Hercules transport planes and other heavy transport aircraft." During the meeting, the defense ministers of the two countries agreed to enhance the defense and military relations and cooperation between the two parties at various levels, ranging from high-level official visits, exchange of school students, staff and command, intelligence education, strategic information exchange to the defense industry.

"These various cooperation must be maintained and improved in various forms of capacity building and capability," said Defense Minister Ryamizard.