JAKARTA, Indonesia — India and Indonesia signed a series of defence and strategic cooperation agreements on Tuesday following bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Istana Merdeka in Jakarta.
The agreements were announced as part of efforts to deepen the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2018. Along with expanding defence cooperation, both countries signed agreements covering maritime security, critical minerals, education, digital connectivity, space cooperation and emerging technologies.
Addressing a joint press conference after the talks, Prime Minister Modi said the agreements marked the beginning of a "golden chapter" in bilateral relations.
"Today marks the beginning of a golden chapter in the India-Indonesia partnership. The growing trust between our countries is strengthening our defence, security and maritime cooperation," Modi said.
BrahMos and Astra Mk-1 Discussions Continue
Defence cooperation featured prominently during the talks, with both sides discussing potential cooperation on India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and Astra Mk-1 beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile.
According to officials, Indonesia selected the BrahMos missile after evaluating its operational performance during India's Operation Sindoor. However, no final purchase agreement for the BrahMos missile was signed during the visit, and discussions between the two sides are continuing.
Officials also discussed the possible export of the Astra Mk-1 missile. If approved in the future, Indonesia would become the first foreign operator of the indigenous Indian air-to-air missile. However, no final procurement agreement for the Astra Mk-1 was announced during the visit.
If a BrahMos agreement is concluded in the future, Indonesia would become the third Southeast Asian country to procure the missile after the Philippines and Vietnam. The proposed acquisition is expected to strengthen Indonesia's coastal defence and anti-access/area-denial capabilities in key maritime areas.
The discussions represent another step in India's efforts to expand exports of domestically developed defence systems and strengthen defence-industrial cooperation with partner countries.
Maritime Cooperation Strengthened
The two leaders also finalized a framework on maritime safety and security cooperation.
As maritime neighbours located along important sea routes, India and Indonesia agreed to increase cooperation between their coast guards to enhance security in the Indian Ocean and surrounding waters.
Both sides also agreed to jointly develop Sabang Port, located near the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. The port is situated about 100 miles from India's Great Nicobar port project and is expected to support maritime connectivity and regional cooperation.
Agreements Beyond Defence
In addition to defence cooperation, the two countries exchanged nearly a dozen Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering several sectors.
India announced plans to invest in Indonesia's critical mineral supply chain, including projects related to stainless steel, nickel and rare-earth permanent magnets.
Prime Minister Modi also announced that the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore will establish a campus in Indonesia to serve students from Indonesia and across the ASEAN region.
To improve economic and travel connectivity, both countries agreed to integrate India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with Indonesia's digital payment system.
In the space sector, India and Indonesia decided to expand their long-standing cooperation. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will assist Indonesia in the peaceful exploration of outer space and support capacity building for Indonesia's space sector through joint research and cooperation.
The two sides also signed agreements to strengthen collaboration in artificial intelligence, telecommunications, digital public infrastructure and startup development.
Long-Standing Defence Partnership
India and Indonesia established formal defence relations in 1951. The two countries signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement in 2001, which was renewed in 2006. Defence ties were further strengthened during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Indonesia in 2018, when both sides upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation.
Since then, military engagement has expanded through bilateral and multilateral exercises, coordinated maritime patrols, defence dialogues, training exchanges and cooperation between defence industries.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations during the meeting, after which multiple agreements were exchanged in their presence.
PM Modi Receives Indonesia's Highest Civilian Honour
Earlier on Tuesday, President Prabowo Subianto conferred Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Bintang Adipurna, Indonesia's highest civilian honour, in recognition of his contribution to strengthening relations between the two countries.
Accepting the honour, Modi dedicated the award to the people of India and the longstanding historical and cultural ties shared by India and Indonesia.
The Indonesia visit is the first leg of Prime Minister Modi's three-nation Indo-Pacific tour, which will also include visits to Australia and New Zealand. Following the official engagements in Jakarta, the two leaders are scheduled to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta on Wednesday.
Source: ANI
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