Jokowi seeks Marcos' support on aircraft procurement from Indonesia

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday sought support from President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. regarding the purchase of anti-submarine warfare aircraft from Indonesia.

"I also seek your excellency's support related to purchase of the submarine warfare aircrafts for the Philippine Navy from the Indonesia," Jokowi said during his bilateral meeting with Marcos.

In September 2022, Jokowi pushed for more opportunities for his country's state-owned and private enterprises to back development initiatives in the Philippines.

During that time, Jokowi said he was hoping that an aircraft deal with PT Dirgantara would push through. The Indonesian president made the statements during Marcos' state visit to Indonesia.

Energy cooperation

Meanwhile, the Philippines and Indonesia also inked an agreement on energy cooperation, which aims at ensuring energy security for both countries.

The signed memorandum of agreement was exchanged between Foreign Affairs Minister Enrique Manalo and Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi in the presence of Marcos and Jokowi.

Marcos said the MOU was the fruit of the successful talks between the Philippines and Indonesia through the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia.  

"Our ministries have worked hard and today we saw one of these works bear fruit as we witnessed the signing of the MOU on the Cooperation in the Field of Energy. Through this MOU, our countries create a new synergy as we cooperate to achieve energy security," Marcos said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News