India, Indonesia seal BrahMos, Astra missile deals and 14 pacts
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Prabowo Subianto sealed major defence and strategic agreements in Jakarta. The package broadens maritime, supply chain and digital cooperation as both sides push for a peaceful Indo-Pacific.
India and Indonesia on Tuesday agreed on major defence deals, including the supply of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Astra air-to-air missiles, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Prabowo Subianto held talks to deepen bilateral ties and discuss ways to ensure a peaceful Indo-Pacific.
The two sides also signed 14 agreements covering areas such as critical minerals and steel supply chains, maritime security, medicines, education, outer space, research and innovation, telecommunication and food security. At the end of the talks, Modi said, "A golden era is now at the threshold for our two nations."
Modi arrived in Jakarta on Monday to a red-carpet welcome in the first leg of his three-nation tour, which will also take him to Australia and New Zealand. The visit is aimed at expanding cooperation in sectors such as trade, security and rare-earth minerals under the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership set up in 2018.
The agreements signed after the Modi-Subianto talks included one for the supply of an unspecified number of BrahMos missiles and another for Astra missiles. It is perhaps the first time that two Indian defence export deals, worth over USD 600 million, were announced in the presence of the prime minister. Both weapon systems played a major role during Operation Sindoor last year.
The BrahMos deal with Indonesia follows similar agreements signed by India with Vietnam and the Philippines. The missile agreements, along with a decision to implement an agreement on maritime safety and security, came against the backdrop of concerns in South East Asia over China's growing military activity in the resource-rich South China Sea and beyond.
Both leaders also discussed the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific. President Subianto stressed the importance of an Indo-Pacific that is open and transparent, with an order-based international law. Modi said, "There is strong synergy in our respective outlooks on the Indo-Pacific. India has always attached special importance to ASEAN centrality." India and Indonesia also decided that Indonesia will deploy a Liaison Officer at India's Integrated Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region.
Modi said growing trust between the two countries was strengthening cooperation in defence, security and the maritime domain. "Today, we agreed to further enhance collaboration in defence exchanges, disaster management, and industrial cooperation," he said. "Our two Coast Guards will now work together to enhance maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean. As two close maritime nations, we have also decided to deepen our cooperation in the blue economy, port development, and maritime trade," he said.
India and Indonesia also agreed to jointly develop Sabang Port, which overlooks the Strait of Malacca and is 100 miles away from India's Great Nicobar port project. The two sides also decided to deepen cooperation in blue economy, maritime trade and port development.
In another significant step, New Delhi decided to invest in the manufacturing of steel, nickel and rare earth permanent magnets in Indonesia. Modi said, "In today's world, supply chain resilience in technology has become critically important. We have also concluded an important agreement to strengthen supply chain resilience in the areas of critical minerals and steel." He added, "In addition, our companies are embarking on a new phase of partnership in stainless steel and rare earth magnets."
Modi said India's Unified Payments Interface will soon be integrated with Indonesia's payment system, and that it would improve ease of doing business and ease of travel between the two countries. He said, "Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2018, is reaching new heights today. We are making significant strides across every domain of cooperation, including development, security, technology, culture, and education." He added, "I am confident that today marks the beginning of a golden new chapter in the India-Indonesia partnership. This new chapter will have a profound and positive impact on the world of the 21st century and on humanity as a whole."
The prime minister also announced that a campus of IIM Bangalore will be set up in Indonesia. The two countries decided to expand cooperation in the space sector as well. Modi said, "We have taken important decisions today to advance joint research, technology sharing, and capacity building in the space sector."
The leaders also discussed global challenges, including the situation in West Asia. Modi said, "In this period of global turbulence, India believes that the role of dialogue and diplomacy has become more important than ever before," and added, "On the issue of Palestine, we continue to support a two-state solution and the pursuit of lasting peace."
On people-to-people ties, Modi said the two countries would celebrate the centenary of Rabindranath Tagore's historic visit to Indonesia. He said Indonesia's nation-building journey owed much to Ki Hajar Dewantara, whose educational philosophy was deeply influenced by Tagore. Modi said, "In recognition of this shared intellectual and cultural legacy, India and Indonesia will commemorate this centenary as the Tagore-Dewantara Year of Cultural and Educational Diplomacy." Overall, the talks produced a wide set of decisions spanning defence, maritime cooperation, supply chains, education, digital payments and culture, underlining the broadening India-Indonesia partnership.
With PTI Inputs
India and Indonesia on Tuesday agreed on major defence deals, including the supply of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Astra air-to-air missiles, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Prabowo Subianto held talks to deepen bilateral ties and discuss ways to ensure a peaceful Indo-Pacific.
The two sides also signed 14 agreements covering areas such as critical minerals and steel supply chains, maritime security, medicines, education, outer space, research and innovation, telecommunication and food security. At the end of the talks, Modi said, "A golden era is now at the threshold for our two nations."
Modi arrived in Jakarta on Monday to a red-carpet welcome in the first leg of his three-nation tour, which will also take him to Australia and New Zealand. The visit is aimed at expanding cooperation in sectors such as trade, security and rare-earth minerals under the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership set up in 2018.
The agreements signed after the Modi-Subianto talks included one for the supply of an unspecified number of BrahMos missiles and another for Astra missiles. It is perhaps the first time that two Indian defence export deals, worth over USD 600 million, were announced in the presence of the prime minister. Both weapon systems played a major role during Operation Sindoor last year.
The BrahMos deal with Indonesia follows similar agreements signed by India with Vietnam and the Philippines. The missile agreements, along with a decision to implement an agreement on maritime safety and security, came against the backdrop of concerns in South East Asia over China's growing military activity in the resource-rich South China Sea and beyond.
Both leaders also discussed the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific. President Subianto stressed the importance of an Indo-Pacific that is open and transparent, with an order-based international law. Modi said, "There is strong synergy in our respective outlooks on the Indo-Pacific. India has always attached special importance to ASEAN centrality." India and Indonesia also decided that Indonesia will deploy a Liaison Officer at India's Integrated Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region.
Modi said growing trust between the two countries was strengthening cooperation in defence, security and the maritime domain. "Today, we agreed to further enhance collaboration in defence exchanges, disaster management, and industrial cooperation," he said. "Our two Coast Guards will now work together to enhance maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean. As two close maritime nations, we have also decided to deepen our cooperation in the blue economy, port development, and maritime trade," he said.
India and Indonesia also agreed to jointly develop Sabang Port, which overlooks the Strait of Malacca and is 100 miles away from India's Great Nicobar port project. The two sides also decided to deepen cooperation in blue economy, maritime trade and port development.
In another significant step, New Delhi decided to invest in the manufacturing of steel, nickel and rare earth permanent magnets in Indonesia. Modi said, "In today's world, supply chain resilience in technology has become critically important. We have also concluded an important agreement to strengthen supply chain resilience in the areas of critical minerals and steel." He added, "In addition, our companies are embarking on a new phase of partnership in stainless steel and rare earth magnets."
Modi said India's Unified Payments Interface will soon be integrated with Indonesia's payment system, and that it would improve ease of doing business and ease of travel between the two countries. He said, "Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2018, is reaching new heights today. We are making significant strides across every domain of cooperation, including development, security, technology, culture, and education." He added, "I am confident that today marks the beginning of a golden new chapter in the India-Indonesia partnership. This new chapter will have a profound and positive impact on the world of the 21st century and on humanity as a whole."
The prime minister also announced that a campus of IIM Bangalore will be set up in Indonesia. The two countries decided to expand cooperation in the space sector as well. Modi said, "We have taken important decisions today to advance joint research, technology sharing, and capacity building in the space sector."
The leaders also discussed global challenges, including the situation in West Asia. Modi said, "In this period of global turbulence, India believes that the role of dialogue and diplomacy has become more important than ever before," and added, "On the issue of Palestine, we continue to support a two-state solution and the pursuit of lasting peace."
On people-to-people ties, Modi said the two countries would celebrate the centenary of Rabindranath Tagore's historic visit to Indonesia. He said Indonesia's nation-building journey owed much to Ki Hajar Dewantara, whose educational philosophy was deeply influenced by Tagore. Modi said, "In recognition of this shared intellectual and cultural legacy, India and Indonesia will commemorate this centenary as the Tagore-Dewantara Year of Cultural and Educational Diplomacy." Overall, the talks produced a wide set of decisions spanning defence, maritime cooperation, supply chains, education, digital payments and culture, underlining the broadening India-Indonesia partnership.
With PTI Inputs
