(VOVWORLD) - Indonesia and Russia on Monday kicked off their first joint naval drills as Indonesia's new President Prabowo Subianto seeks to boost ties with Moscow.
The drills will last five day in two phases at a naval base in Surabaya and in the Java Sea.
According to the Indonesian Navy, Russia sent three corvette class warships, a medium tanker ship, a military helicopter, and a tug boat to take part in the drills.
Local broadcasters showed Russian ships calling into port and being welcomed by an Indonesian marching band on Sunday ahead of the drills.
Jakarta has billion-dollar trade ties with Moscow, yet major arms imports have stalled in recent years.