UK Finalizes £4B Maritime Deal with Indonesia

LONDON

The United Kingdom has finalized a £4 billion maritime partnership with Indonesia, a major agreement that will support shipbuilding in both countries and expand cooperation across defence, coastal security, and sustainable fisheries.

The deal, announced by the UK government this week, forms part of a wider Maritime Partnership Programme led by Babcock International, one of Britain’s largest defence engineering firms. Under the agreement, the UK will provide ship-design expertise and technology to support the construction of new vessels for Indonesia’s navy and fishing fleet.

Officials say the programme will include more than 1,000 fishing boats and a series of naval ships that will be built in Indonesia, using British designs and industrial support. The partnership also involves technology transfer, covering automation, digital shipbuilding, precision engineering, and education initiatives linking UK and Indonesian institutions.

According to the UK government, the project is expected to support around 1,000 British jobs, particularly in shipyards in Rosyth, Bristol, and Devonport, where project management, engineering, and design work will be based.

The agreement also carries a sustainability component. Backed by the UK’s Blue Planet Fund, the partnership will expand joint work on marine conservation, coastal resilience, and fish-stock assessment areas viewed as crucial to Indonesia’s long-term food security.

The Indonesian government, led by President Prabowo Subianto, has welcomed the deal as a major step in strengthening the country’s maritime capability and supporting coastal economies. The agreement deepens the UK-Indonesia Strategic Partnership, established last year, which places heavy emphasis on security and economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Industry analysts note that the deal reflects Britain’s ongoing effort to expand its presence in the region and support allied nations through industrial and defence collaboration. It also builds on a separate agreement involving UK firm SRT Marine Systems, which will supply surveillance technology to Indonesia’s coastguard.

With vessels expected to begin production under joint supervision, officials in both countries describe the £4 billion programme as one of the most significant maritime collaborations ever undertaken between the UK and Southeast Asia.

Read Also UK Proposes 10-Year Default Wait for Permanent Stay