Key Points:
- Exercises to focus on manoeuvres, communications and operational coordination
- Analysts say visit carries symbolic weight amid shifting geopolitical alignments in Indo-Pacific
ISLAMABAD: A Russian naval unit, including a submarine, has docked in Jakarta for joint training with Indonesia, according to officials, as the two countries expand naval engagement in the Indo-Pacific.
The vessels included the corvette Gromkiy, the submarine Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, and the ocean tug Andrey Stepanov, according to a statement by the Russian embassy in Jakarta.
The embassy said the ships arrived on Sunday at Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok port, where they were received with a ceremonial welcome.
In a post shared on X along with images of the vessels, the embassy said both sides “emphasised the close and long-standing cooperative relationship in the naval sector.”
⚓️ Pada tanggal 29 Maret 2026, satuan kapal Armada Pasifik Angkatan Laut Rusia tiba di Jakarta, terdiri dari korvet «Gromky», kapal selam «Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky», dan kapal tunda «Andrey Stepanov».
🇷🇺🇮🇩 Upacara penyambutan di Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok dihadiri dan diisi… pic.twitter.com/jrdZfMGEaf
— Russian Embassy, IDN (@RusEmbJakarta) March 29, 2026
It added that the visit underscored a joint commitment to continue strengthening cooperation to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Over the coming days, the vessels are expected to conduct joint training in manoeuvres and communications, focusing on operational coordination between the two navies.
Indonesia has maintained a non-aligned foreign policy approach, balancing relations with multiple global powers. The engagement with Russia comes as Jakarta continues to expand its defence partnerships under President Prabowo Subianto.
Indonesia last year joined the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) grouping, even as it continues defence and trade engagement with the United States.
Analysts say this reflects Jakarta’s effort to preserve strategic flexibility in a multipolar environment.
Earlier this month, President Prabowo said Indonesia could reconsider agreements with any partner if national interests were at stake, underscoring its pragmatic foreign policy approach.
Pieter Pandie, a researcher at the Jakarta-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said the Russian visit appeared largely symbolic.
“For Russia, it shows there are still countries willing to engage despite the war in Ukraine and Western sanctions,” he told AFP.
“For Indonesia, the motive is less clear beyond maintaining engagement with all partners under its broader foreign policy approach,” he added
The drills are expected to conclude after several days at sea, with both sides signalling continued interest in defence cooperation.
