Russia-Indonesia relations (21st Century Crisis)

Russia-Indonesia relations are the bilateral relations between the Republic of Indonesia and the United Russian Republics.

Currently, Russo-Indonesian relations have been positive, however there were many points of heated relations, especially during the Cold War and the rise of the Jemaah Islamiyah.

However, During the presidency of Susilo Bambang-Yudhouyono, relations between the two warmed, with the sign in of the Treaty of Renewal, Cooperation and Friendship, signed in Moscow with then-president Dmitry Medvedev. Ever since then, Indonesia has grown to become a Russian ally, along with Thailand and Vietnam.

Russia operates an overseas base in Sulawesi and is building a naval strategic base in Sumatra. Indonesia is currently considered one of Russia's most important Southeast Asian allies, second only to Vietnam, since both countries share a mutual hate against the United States, due to the CIA Bombings of Indonesia, and Indonesia's anti-American stance when it comes to global policy.

Indonesia also purchases large amounts of Russian equipment for its military, including the Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-35, Russian AFVs and attack helicopters. Indonesia also imports oil and natural gas from Russia. Russia on the other hand imports palm oil, coffee and rice from Indonesia.

According to a 2017 BBC Poll, 45.1% Indonesians see Russia in a positive light, while 40.5% see it in a negative light.

History
After the resignation of Suharto, relations between the two redeveloped. However, they never reached their full potential.

In 2001, relations between Russia and Indonesia reached large-scale lows, with the rise of Islamist groups In Indonesia and the rise of Christian fascism In Russia under Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

The Russian government accused the Indonesian government of purposefully and intentionally funding the persecution of Christian Indonesians. Russian assassins, mercaneries and private paramilitary were known to have gone to Sulawesi in large numbers to help Christian Indonesians fight Islamist hardliners. As a result, Russia refused sales of all weapons to Indonesia's armed forces, and urged South Korea to follow suit. At the same time, Zhirinovsky was funding persecutions of Muslims in Central Asia. Both Russia and Indonesia accused one another of persecuting religious minorities.

The Russian ambassador to Indonesia was recalled to Moscow. In addition, Russian Muslims in Indonesia (mostly tourists and exchange students) that supported Moscow's claims were victims of attacks by Muslim hardliners. Russian military leaders threatened to use force against Indonesia if necessary if Jakarta did not properly address the issue. Moscow suspended all travels to Indonesia until it was safe.

Upon learning of the attack, Muslim coalitions across Russia expressed their rage on the attacks against Russians in Indonesia. Kadir Zamirov, currently a fighter pilot in the Russian Armed Forces and a former imam from Dagestan stated, "They attack innocent Christians, and now they attack Muslim brothers and sisters, what a disgrace. Point is, they attack the great peoples of the Motherland. Indonesia needs to be dealt with."

The Head of Chechnya stated, "Whether Christian or Muslim, when a Russian brother or sister is attacked, we respond."

Moscow also warned Jakarta that it would cut oil and gas exports if it did not ensure safety for Russian workers delivering those materials. President Dmitry Medvedev then ordered sanctions against Indonesia, increasing its palm oil imports from Malaysia and it's rice and coffee exports from Thailand.

In 2014, with the victory of Joko Widodo of the United Indonesia Party, persecution of Christians and Chinese-Indonesians decreased as Widodo called for a "total crackdown" of hardliner Islamist groups in Indonesia under his "One, United Indonesia" policy.

He called on to increased Russian military aid in fighting hardliner Islamists. The Indonesian government agreeing to pay Russian soldiers an equivalent of $1,000 USD per month, a little less than what Indonesian troops get paid. Beginning at this point, military relations and cooperations between Indonesia and Russia reached an all-time high. The Americans and NATO feared an Indonesian entry into the Russian sphere of influence and did not take Indonesia's cooperation with Russia positively. NATO agents were sent to Indonesia to retrieve information about the Russo-Indonesian cooperation and the United States contemplated on enacting sanctions against Indonesia.

Many Muslim hardliners in Indonesia called for President Widodo's impeachment, along with the governments of Malaysia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and North Syria, claiming that Widodo was a kafir in disguise persecuting Muslims. Russian and Vietnamese troops helped Indonesian troops in the Sulawesi Conflict. In 2015, Indonesia increased importing military supplies from Russia.

In Ramadan of 2018, Russian and Indonesian forces fought a string of attacks against churches across Indonesia. Islamist hardliners called for a jihad against Russian forces in Indonesia. Increased Russian presence in Indonesia prompted the Australian government to actively send increase military patrols near Indonesia.

Via convincing from India, another Russian ally, President Widodo gave Russia the greenlight to construct a naval strategic base in Sumatra. This coincides with the Russian economic boom, as a result of the lifting of Western sanctions against Russia. Via this, the Russian government agrees to pay the Indonesian government $3.1 billion per year in land usage fees.