Rome: Indonesia's Ambassador to Ankara Achmad Rizal Purnama hailed the KAAN purchasing agreement between Indonesia and Trkiye as a 'historical milestone' on Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, Purnama expressed his satisfaction with the deal, stating that the agreement marked a significant step in the cooperation between the two nations. "The KAAN purchasing agreement that has been signed between Indonesia and Trkiye is a very historical milestone. I believe that this cooperation extends beyond procurement," he noted.

Purnama highlighted the close relationship between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, emphasizing that their connection transcended the presidential level and included the people of both countries. "These two meetings in the last two months have shown the closeness of our bilateral relations, not only at the level of our two presidents but also between our peoples," he added.

The ambassador further elaborated on the partnership, stating that the cooperation between Trkiye and Indonesia was not merely a transactional relationship. "We are not just buyers and sellers; we are equal partners committed to innovation, resilience, peace, and stability, not only for our two countries but also for our respective regions and beyond to the world at large," he asserted.

The KAAN agreement encompasses technology transfers and the integration of Indonesia's industrial infrastructure into KAAN production, as well as support for Indonesia's domestic defense ecosystem. "48 Turkish fighter jets will be completed in 120 months, and it will be a very significant milestone of our defense cooperation agreement," Purnama mentioned.

Outlining their intentions to contribute to regional and global peace, the Indonesian ambassador emphasized that advancing cooperation with Trkiye was a top priority. "Our aim is very clear: to safeguard our sovereignty, and at the same time, we aim to contribute to regional and global peace and stability in the world. I'm very pleased to witness this milestone in our bilateral defense cooperation between our two countries," he explained.

Purnama concluded by stating that since his arrival in Trkiye, defense industries have been a priority in advancing the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Trkiye.