The diplomatic relations between the countries date back to February 3, 1950. The two states exchanged Embassies in 1954. This gave start to active development of ties between Russia and Indonesia, broadened cooperation in political, economic, cultural and military domains that benefited both countries.

In September 1956, the first general agreement was signed. The Soviet Union granted Indonesia a multimillion credit for construction of essential economic infrastructure. As soon as March 17, 1958, 10 Soviet vessels carrying military cargo moored at Indonesia’s ports.
Another milestone that year was on April 26 when the General Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the USSR and Indonesia came into force.

The year of 1961 saw the beginning of large deliveries of military equipment for sweeping rearmament of the Indonesian Armed Forces. They included GAZ-69 high-mobility vehicles, PT-76 amphibious tanks, naval ships, fighters, submarines, artillery systems, and small arms. The modernization entailed simultaneous training of thousands of Indonesian officers, soldiers and sailors in the USSR.

The assistance rendered by the Soviet Union, both military and military and technical, gave the fledgling republic strength to shake off the Dutch influence and gain territorial integrity. Though this did not save Russian-Indonesian ties from almost 20 years of stagnation that started in the late 1960s. Only the 1989 visit of Indonesian President Haji Soharto to Moscow turned the tide in the relations between the two states to the better.

Russia and Indonesia run a Joint Committee on Trade & Economic, Military & Technical Cooperation. Established in 2002, the Committee has been working ever since.

The 2003 visit of Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri to Russia gave birth to a Declaration on the Foundations of Friendly and Partnership Relations in the 21st Century.
Indonesian President Susilo Yudhoyono’s visit to Russia in 2006 was followed by a reciprocal visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2007.

The Business Council for Cooperation with Indonesia that came into being on November 10, 2009 has proved to be an effective tool. So far, Russia and Indonesia have signed around 20 government-to-government agreements and memorandums that laid the contractual and legal groundwork for today’s bilateral economic cooperation.

The militaries of both states are no strangers to cooperation. In May 2011, the Russian and Indonesian navies conducted a joint counter-terrorist exercise for the first time ever.

Russia and Indonesia signed an Agreement for Strengthening Military and Technical Cooperation in September 2010. The countries also established an Intergovernmental Committee on Military and Technical Cooperation. Russia supplied the Indonesian Armed Forces with Su-type combat aircraft, Mi-type helicopters, AK-100 series Kalashnikov assault rifles, and other equipment.

Rosoboronexport is a permanent participant of Indo Defence Expo & Forum, an international arms exhibition hosted by Djakarta, Indonesia.

Indonesia hosts a representative office of Rostec, Russia’s state corporation, that also projects Rosoboronexport’s interests in the country. Telephone number of the office: (+6221) 390-40-51, fax: (+6221) 390-40-50, e-mail: rv4360@mail.ru