Japan and Indonesia on Friday, 5 June agreed to launch working-level discussions on the possible transfer of Asagiri-class destroyers to the Indonesian military, marking a significant step in Tokyo's accelerating push to deepen defence ties with Indo-Pacific partners. The agreement was reached during bilateral talks in Tokyo between Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Indonesian counterpart, Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

What Was Agreed

According to Japan's Ministry of Defence, Indonesia formally expressed its intention to advance cooperation in defence equipment and technology, specifically including the potential transfer of Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) general-purpose destroyers. The two ministers agreed to channel discussions through a working-level framework that was established as recently as May 2025.

Japan's Ministry of Defence confirmed the development in a post on X, stating: 'On June 5, DM Koizumi met with DM Sjafrie of Indonesia, and agreed to start discussions in the working group on defence equipment and technology cooperation, including the transfer of Asagiri-class destroyers and other equipment. They agreed to further strengthen Japan-Indonesia cooperation.'

Context: Japan's Expanding Arms Export Push

The Indonesia agreement is part of a broader and accelerating shift in Tokyo's defence posture. Japan eased longstanding restrictions on the export of lethal weapons in April 2025, opening the door to equipment transfers that were previously prohibited under its post-war pacifist framework. Since then, Koizumi has moved quickly to build a pipeline of potential deals with security-aligned nations.

Notably, last month Koizumi pitched the possible export of Japan's advanced Mogami-class frigate to New Zealand during the first trilateral defence ministers' meeting with his New Zealand and Australian counterparts — Chris Penk and Richard Marles — on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue regional security forum in Singapore. 'We'll move forward with discussions on a defence equipment transfer agreement with New Zealand,' Koizumi told reporters after the meeting.

Koizumi also underscored the strategic rationale: 'I told them that if New Zealand were to select our vessel, it would not only deepen defence cooperation between Japan and New Zealand but could also improve interoperability and operational compatibility among the three countries,' he noted.

Japan-Australia Deal Already Sealed

The momentum is not limited to proposals. In April 2025, Japan and Australia signed contracts to jointly deliver three of 11 ships for the Australian Navy, based on an upgraded variant of the Mogami-class frigate. That deal represents the most concrete realisation of Japan's new export-enabled defence diplomacy to date.

Strategic Significance for the Indo-Pacific

Japan's outreach spans the Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, and now Indonesia — countries that collectively form a loose arc of maritime democracies with overlapping interests in a rules-based Indo-Pacific. The Asagiri-class destroyers, while older than the Mogami-class, offer Indonesia a capable surface combatant platform. This is the first time Japan has formally entered working-level talks with Indonesia on destroyer transfers, according to available reports.

The working-group discussions are expected to cover not only the vessel transfer itself but also defence technology cooperation more broadly. How quickly these talks progress will be closely watched as a gauge of Japan's willingness to follow through on its new export-permissive posture.