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Newsweek
a day ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Full List of NATO Navies Supplying World's Largest Muslim Nation
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Indonesia's defense ministry on Saturday signed an agreement with Turkish officials for the purchase of two frigates. While the deal adds to Jakarta's growing list of procurement contracts with NATO allies, analysts warn that relying on such a diverse mix of foreign manufacturers poses logistical challenges and could strain Indonesia's limited defense budget. Newsweek reached out to the Indonesian defense ministry and Turkish foreign ministry via email for comment. Why It Matters Despite fielding Southeast Asia's largest navy, Indonesia has only a handful of combatant ships—mainly comprising small attack craft suited for operation near the coast and a small fleet of aging submarines. While Indonesia has maintained a policy of neutrality even amid territorial disputes with China, Malaysia and Australia, officials have been working to transition the navy from a green-water force focused on nearshore defense to a blue-water navy able to project power farther from its shores. France French warship builder Naval Group has been contracted to construct two diesel-electric Scorpène-class submarines in Indonesia, which will bring the country's submarine count to six. Indonesian's navy operates two oceanographic research vessels built by France's OCEA Shipbuilding. The Turkish frigate TCG Istanbul sails in the Bosphorus in the centennial ceremony of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 2023. The Turkish frigate TCG Istanbul sails in the Bosphorus in the centennial ceremony of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 2023. Wikimedia Commons United Kingdom Two frigates based on the UK's Arrowhead 140 design are being built for Indonesia by state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL under a deal with London-based defense contractor Babcock. British diving and submarine rescue equipment manufacturer Submarine Manufacturing and Products is contracted to provide the Indonesian Navy with its new submarine rescue system. Italy Earlier this month, Indonesia took delivery of the first of two multipurpose offshore patrol vessels it ordered from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The Netherlands Indonesia operates six Dutch-designed, Sigma-class missile-guided corvettes: four Diponegoro-class and two larger, more advanced Martadinata-class ships. Turkey The agreement signed Saturday by Turkish and Indonesian officials will see Turkey's TAIS shipyards build a pair of Istif-class frigates for the Southeast Asian nation. What People Are Saying Collin Koh, senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Dutch corvettes, French + Republic of Korea [South Korea] submarines, British + Turkish frigates, Italian offshore patrol vessels. Mostly involving small quantities of purchase. "A logistical nightmare that doesn't maximize efficient use of limited funds for long-term sustainability of a fleet." SSB, a Turkish government agency tasked with managing defense industry projects, wrote: "This marks Turkey's first export of MİLGEM-class vessels to Indonesia and represents a significant milestone in strategic naval cooperation, bringing pride to our nation. "We hope this collaboration, embodying the shared maritime defense vision of two allied nations, will be beneficial for all parties involved."
HKFP
03-07-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong arrives in Hong Kong
China's first domestically built aircraft carrier sailed into Hong Kong on Thursday, just days after the city marked 28 years under Chinese rule. Commissioned in 2019, the more than 300-metre (1,000-foot) Shandong is China's second carrier and key to the country's regional ambitions under President Xi Jinping, who oversaw a massive naval buildup that has rattled Asian neighbours. Beijing earlier announced the Shandong and its escort vessels — which include the destroyer Zhanjiang and frigate Yuncheng — will visit the Chinese finance hub for five days and host 'tours and cultural exchange activities'. The flotilla was spotted early on Thursday morning sailing off the southern coast of Hong Kong island. The Shandong's visit came days after it concluded combat drills in the western Pacific, alongside China's first aircraft carrier the Liaoning. Both ships are of a modified Soviet design with a distinctive 'ski jump' deck for aircraft takeoff. China's third and more advanced carrier, the Fujian, is undergoing sea trials. Tickets to visit the vessels in Hong Kong were snapped up within minutes on social media app WeChat. 'The idea appears to impress upon the Hong Kong public… the ruling (Chinese Communist Party's) quest for building what's termed as the status of a maritime great power,' said Collin Koh, a naval affairs specialist at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. The Shandong is the second Chinese aircraft carrier to visit Hong Kong, following a 2017 visit by the Liaoning. China has rapidly upgraded its naval forces as it seeks to expand its reach in the Pacific and challenge a US-led alliance. The US Department of Defense said in a December report that numerically China has the largest navy in the world, with a battle force of more than 370 ships and submarines. Japan authorities said China's dual-carrier exercise in the Pacific last month was the first of its kind and reflected intentions to improve operational capabilities in distant areas. Chong Ja Ian of the National University of Singapore said China's latest exercises suggest 'both aircraft carriers are ready to engage in more sophisticated operations' but some unknowns remain, including the operational tempo they can bear. In April, the Shandong took part in drills testing the Chinese navy's ability to 'blockade' Taiwan, according to the Eastern Theater Command. China insists that the self-ruled democracy is part of its territory and has refused to rule out seizing it by force. The Shandong was also reportedly present in Philippine waters in April during a joint US-Philippines military exercise, deepening tensions between Manila and Beijing.
Korea Herald
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong arrives in Hong Kong
China's first domestically built aircraft carrier sailed into Hong Kong on Thursday, just days after the city marked 28 years under Chinese rule. Commissioned in 2019, the more than 300-meter Shandong is China's second carrier and key to the country's regional ambitions under President Xi Jinping, who oversaw a massive naval buildup that has rattled Asian neighbours. Beijing earlier announced the Shandong and its escort vessels — which include the destroyer Zhanjiang and frigate Yuncheng — will visit the Chinese finance hub for five days and host "tours and cultural exchange activities." The flotilla was spotted early on Thursday morning sailing off the southern coast of Hong Kong island. The Shandong's visit came days after it concluded combat drills in the western Pacific, alongside China's first aircraft carrier the Liaoning. Both ships are of a modified Soviet design with a distinctive "ski jump" deck for aircraft takeoff. China's third and more advanced carrier, the Fujian, is undergoing sea trials. Tickets to visit the vessels in Hong Kong were snapped up within minutes on social media app WeChat. "The idea appears to impress upon the Hong Kong public ... the ruling (Chinese Communist Party's) quest for building what's termed as the status of a maritime great power," said Collin Koh, a naval affairs specialist at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. The Shandong is the second Chinese aircraft carrier to visit Hong Kong, following a 2017 visit by the Liaoning. China has rapidly upgraded its naval forces as it seeks to expand its reach in the Pacific and challenge a US-led alliance. The US Department of Defense said in a December report that numerically China has the largest navy in the world, with a battle force of more than 370 ships and submarines. Japan authorities said China's dual-carrier exercise in the Pacific last month was the first of its kind and reflected intentions to improve operational capabilities in distant areas. Chong Ja Ian of the National University of Singapore said China's latest exercises suggest "both aircraft carriers are ready to engage in more sophisticated operations" but some unknowns remain, including the operational tempo they can bear. In April, the Shandong took part in drills testing the Chinese navy's ability to "blockade" Taiwan, according to the Eastern Theater Command. China insists that the self-ruled democracy is part of its territory and has refused to rule out seizing it by force. The Shandong was also reportedly present in Philippine waters in April during a joint US-Philippines military exercise, deepening tensions between Manila and Beijing. (AFP)
Miami Herald
02-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Asia Map Shows US Coast Guard Ships Given to China's Neighbors
The United States recently completed the transfer of 10 former Coast Guard ships to four Asian countries, including two involved in territorial disputes with China, a Newsweek map shows. The handover of cutters held both practical and politically symbolic significance in response to China's assertiveness in the South China Sea, where it claims sovereignty over most of the waters, naval analyst Collin Koh told Newsweek. Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Coast Guard and China's Foreign Ministry for comment via email. In June, the former U.S. Coast Guard ship USCGC Mellon-one of 12 Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters-arrived in Vietnam to continue its service with the Southeast Asian nation's coast guard, marking the third transfer of this class of cutter to the country. Three other Hamilton-class ships are serving in the Philippine navy. Both Hanoi and Manila have overlapping sovereignty claims with Beijing in the South China Sea, where China maintains a persistent presence with the world's largest coast guard fleet. China has rapidly expanded its military footprint across the Indian Ocean, and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have also received a pair of Hamilton-class ships for their navies. Following the transfer of the final high-endurance cutter to Vietnam, the U.S. Coast Guard announced last week that all Hamilton-class ships had been handed over to their respective foreign recipients as "excess defense articles"-including two vessels delivered to Nigeria. Such transfers of decommissioned vessels align with the country's Indo-Pacific strategy, the U.S. Coast Guard said, as they help bolster security and build partnerships in the region. The 2,700-ton Hamilton-class ships, commissioned between the 1960s and 1970s, have been replaced by the Legend-class national security cutters. Considered the largest and most advanced vessels in the U.S. Coast Guard, they are capable of supporting a wide range of missions. Koh, a senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies in Singapore, described the U.S.'s transfer of Hamilton-class cutters to Southeast Asian countries as significant, adding the right type of maritime asset while strengthening their fleets of offshore patrol vessels. Citing challenges-such as higher sea states, vast distances from shore infrastructure and the need for wide-area surveillance and enforcement-the analyst said the offshore patrol vessel was the quintessential asset for missions in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. While the Pentagon has assessed that the Chinese coast guard possesses more than 150 patrol vessels weighing more than 1,000 tons, Koh argued that neither Vietnam nor the Philippines has a practical need to match China "vessel for vessel" to project a sustained presence. A handful of cutters transferred to these countries would represent a significant leap in their ability to maintain what the analyst called a "sustained peacetime constabulary presence" in the South China Sea as this class of ship is larger and offers greater range and endurance. The U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release on June 27: "Excess Defense Articles (EDA) transfers help to develop relationships with partner nations and allies to enhance the pursuit of cooperatively shared maritime safety and security goals. In addition to building maritime capacity among strategic partners, the EDA program has saved the Coast Guard around $41 million in disposal costs for the decommissioned high endurance cutter fleet." Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studie, told Newsweek: "The [Hamilton-class] ship itself sends a veritable signal of these countries' determination to hold their ground against Chinese transgressions, and also reflects their growing security ties with Washington-which in some ways complicates Beijing's intentions and plans in its exercise of coercion against these [Southeast Asian] rivals." The U.S. is expected to continue its defense cooperation with allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific region. It remains to be seen whether additional military equipment, including decommissioned naval and coast guard ships, will be transferred to countries in the region. Related Articles Map Shows Major US Naval Presence in West Pacific Amid China RivalryIran Sets Terms for Nuclear Talks With Army Prepares For New AttackWhat the Industrial Revolution Can Teach Americans About the AI Revolution 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Asia Map Shows US Coast Guard Ships Given to China's Neighbors
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States recently completed the transfer of 10 former Coast Guard ships to four Asian countries, including two involved in territorial disputes with China, a Newsweek map shows. The handover of cutters held both practical and politically symbolic significance in response to China's assertiveness in the South China Sea, where it claims sovereignty over most of the waters, naval analyst Collin Koh told Newsweek. Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Coast Guard and China's Foreign Ministry for comment via email. Why It Matters In June, the former U.S. Coast Guard ship USCGC Mellon—one of 12 Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters—arrived in Vietnam to continue its service with the Southeast Asian nation's coast guard, marking the third transfer of this class of cutter to the country. Three other Hamilton-class ships are serving in the Philippine navy. Both Hanoi and Manila have overlapping sovereignty claims with Beijing in the South China Sea, where China maintains a persistent presence with the world's largest coast guard fleet. China has rapidly expanded its military footprint across the Indian Ocean, and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have also received a pair of Hamilton-class ships for their navies. What To Know Following the transfer of the final high-endurance cutter to Vietnam, the U.S. Coast Guard announced last week that all Hamilton-class ships had been handed over to their respective foreign recipients as "excess defense articles"—including two vessels delivered to Nigeria. Such transfers of decommissioned vessels align with the country's Indo-Pacific strategy, the U.S. Coast Guard said, as they help bolster security and build partnerships in the region. The 2,700-ton Hamilton-class ships, commissioned between the 1960s and 1970s, have been replaced by the Legend-class national security cutters. Considered the largest and most advanced vessels in the U.S. Coast Guard, they are capable of supporting a wide range of missions. Koh, a senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies in Singapore, described the U.S.'s transfer of Hamilton-class cutters to Southeast Asian countries as significant, adding the right type of maritime asset while strengthening their fleets of offshore patrol vessels. Citing challenges—such as higher sea states, vast distances from shore infrastructure and the need for wide-area surveillance and enforcement—the analyst said the offshore patrol vessel was the quintessential asset for missions in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. The Vietnamese coast guard's high-endurance cutter CSB 8022, which is the former United States Coast Guard ship USCGC Mellon, arriving in Ninh Hoa, Vietnam, on June 18. The Vietnamese coast guard's high-endurance cutter CSB 8022, which is the former United States Coast Guard ship USCGC Mellon, arriving in Ninh Hoa, Vietnam, on June 18. U.S. Mission to Vietnam While the Pentagon has assessed that the Chinese coast guard possesses more than 150 patrol vessels weighing more than 1,000 tons, Koh argued that neither Vietnam nor the Philippines has a practical need to match China "vessel for vessel" to project a sustained presence. A handful of cutters transferred to these countries would represent a significant leap in their ability to maintain what the analyst called a "sustained peacetime constabulary presence" in the South China Sea as this class of ship is larger and offers greater range and endurance. What People Are Saying The U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release on June 27: "Excess Defense Articles (EDA) transfers help to develop relationships with partner nations and allies to enhance the pursuit of cooperatively shared maritime safety and security goals. In addition to building maritime capacity among strategic partners, the EDA program has saved the Coast Guard around $41 million in disposal costs for the decommissioned high endurance cutter fleet." Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studie, told Newsweek: "The [Hamilton-class] ship itself sends a veritable signal of these countries' determination to hold their ground against Chinese transgressions, and also reflects their growing security ties with Washington—which in some ways complicates Beijing's intentions and plans in its exercise of coercion against these [Southeast Asian] rivals." What Happens Next The U.S. is expected to continue its defense cooperation with allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific region. It remains to be seen whether additional military equipment, including decommissioned naval and coast guard ships, will be transferred to countries in the region.
