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Sukhoi deal hangs in balance amid US pressure
Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said the government was still considering a number of issues regarding the deal.
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Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster Transport aircraft (C) and two Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets fly past during a full dress rehearsal for the Air Force Day parade at the Air Force Station Hindon in Ghaziabad town on the outskirts of New Delhi on October 6, 2018. (AFP/Prakash Singh)
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n February 2018, Indonesia and Russia signed a US$1.14 billion purchase contract for 11 Sukhoi jet fighters. It has been two years since the deal was made under then-defense minister Ryamizard Ryacudu and still no shipments have arrived from Moscow.
The billion-dollar deal is reportedly in limbo, with Moscow and analysts pointing to pressures from the United States as the primary reason why Jakarta is dragging its feet in finalizing the purchase.
The State Palace stopped short of confirming the claim, but admitted that a non-technical issue had hampered the process.
Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said the government was still considering a number of issues regarding the deal. "Please wait as there are other factors [to be considered]. It is not just business-to-business, but there are other factors also," he told reporters on Tuesday.
When asked if US lobbying and the fact that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was slated to meet with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, next month were part of the considerations, Moeldoko said, "Other factors could be many things."
Other officials, including Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, have been equally evasive when asked about details of the planned Sukhoi purchase.
Prabowo has declined to comment on the matter, saying the future of the deal would be disclosed to the public at a later date.
