PM MODI’S STATE VISIT TO INDONESIA

PM MODI’S STATE VISIT TO INDONESIA

Why in News?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jakarta on a two-day State Visit to Indonesia as the first leg of his three-nation tour covering Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.
• The visit was undertaken at the invitation of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
• The visit marked a major milestone in advancing the India–Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and resulted in extensive cooperation across political, defence, maritime, economic, digital, cultural and multilateral domains.

BACKGROUND

Historical Relations

India and Indonesia share:

• Ancient civilizational ties.
• Strong maritime linkages.
• Hindu-Buddhist cultural influences.
• Shared anti-colonial experiences.
• Democratic values and pluralism.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

• Bilateral ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018.
• Both countries adopted the Shared Vision of India–Indonesia Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific (2018).

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

• President Prabowo visited India in January 2025 as Chief Guest for India’s 76^th Republic Day celebrations.
• PM Modi’s visit represents the next stage of strategic engagement between the two nations.

ARRIVAL & GRAND RECEPTION

Official Reception

Upon arrival in Jakarta, PM Modi was received by:

• President Prabowo Subianto.
• Senior Indonesian Ministers.
• Indian Ambassador to Indonesia.
• Members of the Indian diaspora.

Cultural Welcome

A vibrant cultural programme was organized featuring:

• Traditional Indonesian dance performances.
• Indian cultural performances.
• Showcasing shared civilizational heritage.

Indian Diaspora Participation

• Members of the Indian community warmly welcomed the Prime Minister.
• Reflected the strong people-to-people ties between the two countries.

MAJOR EVENTS

Ceremonial Reception

• PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Istana Merdeka.

Bilateral Talks

The two leaders held:

• One-to-one (tête-à-tête) discussions.
• Delegation-level talks.

State Banquet

• President Prabowo hosted a State Banquet in honour of PM Modi.

Address to Indonesian Parliament

• PM Modi addressed the Indonesian Parliament.
• Highlighted democratic values and strategic cooperation.

Community Reception

• Both leaders participated in a reception hosted by the Indian community in Indonesia.

Prambanan Temple Initiative

• PM Modi and President Prabowo jointly inaugurated restoration and conservation works at the Prambanan Temple Compounds, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

(A massive 9th-century UNESCO World Heritage site. Dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti (Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma), it features the 47-meter-tall Shiva temple and intricate Ramayana epic reliefs. It is the largest Hindu site in Indonesia.

POLITICAL COOPERATION

Strengthening Strategic Engagement

Both leaders agreed to:

• Hold regular Summit-level meetings.
• Increase high-level political exchanges.
• Maintain strategic consultations on regional and global issues.

Institutional Mechanisms

The two sides reaffirmed commitment towards:

• Joint Commission Meeting (JCM).
• Foreign Office Consultations (FOC).
• Ministerial dialogues.
• Senior Officials’ Meetings.
• Sectoral Working Groups.

PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION

The leaders welcomed:

• Establishment of India–Indonesia Parliamentary Friendship Groups.
• Regular exchanges between parliamentarians.

Think Tank and Academic Cooperation

Support was expressed for deeper cooperation through:

• 3rd India–Indonesia Policy Planning Dialogue (2025).
• 2nd India–Indonesia Track 1.5 Dialogue (2025).
• Jakarta Futures Forum.
• Academic and research institutions.

DEFENCE COOPERATION

Strategic Context

India and Indonesia are maritime neighbours situated at key sea lanes connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Military Cooperation

Both countries agreed to strengthen:

• Defence dialogues.
• Joint military exercises.
• Staff talks.
• Defence training.
• Peacekeeping cooperation.

Capacity Building

• Cadet exchanges.
• Hydrographic cooperation.
• Information sharing.
• Professional military education.

LIST OF EXERCISES IN WHICH INDIA & INDONESIA PARTICIPATE

• Exercise Garuda Shakti: A prominent annual bilateral exercise between the Special Forces of the Indian Army and the Indonesian Special Forces.
• Exercise Samudra Shakti: A crucial bilateral Naval exercise designed to practice complex maritime operations, air defense drills, anti-submarine warfare, and weapon firing.
• IND-INDO CORPAT: The India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol conducted along the International Maritime Boundary Line to secure the Indian Ocean Region against piracy and maritime transnational crimes
• Super Garuda Shield: Co-hosted annually by Indonesia and the United States, this has scaled up into a massive multinational exercise. It brings together over 6,000 troops from nations including Australia, Japan, the UK, France, and Singapore to focus on live-fire drills, command exercises, and cyber defense.
• Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo (MNEK): A large-scale biennial naval exercise hosted by the Indonesian Navy.
• RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific): Indonesia frequently deploys naval assets and marines to take part in this major US-led international maritime exercise, training heavily in tropical jungle survival and close-quarters combat.

Defence Technology Cooperation

Areas identified include:

• Joint research.
• Joint production.
• Technology transfer.
• Defence innovation.

Defence Industrial Cooperation

The leaders agreed to promote:

• Defence manufacturing partnerships.
• Shipbuilding cooperation.
• Establishment of MRO facilities.
• Defence R&D collaboration.
• Defence supply-chain integration.

Major Defence Outcomes

• Cooperation on BrahMos Missile System.
• Air-to-Air Missile Cooperation Agreement.

Military Medical Cooperation

• Progress in pharmaceutical collaboration between Armed Forces Medical Establishments of both countries.

MARITIME COOPERATION

Strategic Importance

The maritime partnership is a cornerstone of bilateral relations.

Priority Areas

Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)

• Monitoring maritime activities.
• Information sharing.
• Maritime surveillance.

Maritime Security

• Coastal surveillance.
• Maritime safety.
• Anti-piracy cooperation.

Humanitarian Cooperation

• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
• Search and Rescue (SAR).

Environmental Cooperation

• Marine pollution control.

Maritime Connectivity

• Port-to-port connectivity.
• Shipping cooperation.

Maritime Agreements

• Renewal of MoU on Maritime Safety and Security Cooperation.
• Implementing Arrangement between BAKAMLA RI and the Indian Coast Guard.

UNCLOS Commitment

Both countries reaffirmed support for:

• Freedom of navigation.
• Respect for international law.
• Adherence to 1982 UNCLOS.

IFC-IOR Cooperation

• Indonesia deployed an International Liaison Officer at Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region, Gurugram.

COUNTER TERRORISM & SECURITY

Common Position

The leaders strongly condemned terrorism in all forms and manifestations.

Counter-Terrorism Cooperation

Focus areas include:

• Intelligence sharing.
• Counter-radicalization.
• Prevention of violent extremism.
• Disrupting terror financing networks.

AML/CFT Cooperation

Strengthening cooperation on:

• Anti-Money Laundering (AML).
• Countering Financing of Terrorism (CFT).

Emerging Challenges

Joint efforts against:

• Online radicalization.
• Terrorist recruitment through digital platforms.
• Misuse of emerging technologies.

Multilateral Cooperation

The leaders reaffirmed cooperation through:

• United Nations
• Financial Action Task Force
• UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee.

India–Indonesia Security Dialogue

• Strengthening cooperation through the IISD mechanism.

CYBER & DIGITAL COOPERATION

Emerging Technology Cooperation

The two countries agreed to cooperate in:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• Digital Economy.
• Financial Technology (FinTech).
• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
• Digital Forensics.

Cyber Security

Cooperation includes:

• CERT collaboration.
• Protection of critical information infrastructure.
• Capacity building.
• Sharing best practices.

Digital Skills

• Joint training programmes.
• Technology exchange initiatives.

ECONOMIC & TRADE COOPERATION

Shared Development Vision

India

• Viksit Bharat 2047

Indonesia

• Indonesia Emas 2045

Trade Cooperation

The leaders supported:

• Early conclusion of the review of ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA).

Economic Mechanisms

The following mechanisms will be strengthened:

• Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI).
• Biennial Trade Ministers Forum (BTMF).
• Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD).

Objectives

• Improve market access.
• Address tariff barriers.
• Remove non-tariff barriers.
• Facilitate investments.
• Strengthen resilient supply chains.

CRITICAL MINERALS

Importance

Critical minerals are essential for:

• EV batteries.
• Renewable energy.
• Defence manufacturing.
• Advanced electronics.

Major Agreements

• MoU between NFTDC, Midwest Ltd and PERMINAS.
• Cooperation on rare earth supply chains.
• Minerals and Steel Supply Chain Cooperation Agreement.

Steel Cooperation

• Strategic Joint Venture between:
  • Steel Authority of India Limited
  • PT Krakatau Steel

Significance

• Diversified supply chains.
• Economic security.
• Reduced import dependence.

FINANCIAL COOPERATION

Local Currency Transaction (LCT)

Progress towards operationalisation between:

• Reserve Bank of India
• Bank Indonesia

Benefits

• Reduced transaction costs.
• Greater financial integration.
• Enhanced trade and investment.

Cross-Border QR Payment Linkage

Benefits include:

• Faster payments.
• Tourism promotion.
• Support for students.
• MSME growth.
• Financial inclusion.

HEALTH, PHARMA, FOOD & FERTILIZER COOPERATION

Health Cooperation

The leaders welcomed:

• Professional Health Workforce Development Arrangement.
• Fellowship programmes.
• Skill enhancement initiatives.
• Clinical training.

Medical Product Regulation

MoU signed between:

• Central Drugs Standard Control Organization
• Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan

Food Security

Cooperation in:

• Agricultural innovation.
• Food trade.
• Sustainable food systems.
• Nutrition security.

Marine and Fisheries

• Renewal of cooperation framework under discussion.

Fertilizer Cooperation

• Ensuring affordable and reliable fertilizer availability.

ENERGY COOPERATION

Areas of Cooperation Conventional Energy

• LNG cooperation.

Renewable Energy

• Green Hydrogen.
• Solar Energy.

Energy Efficiency

• Joint studies.
• Technology exchange.
• Capacity building.

Objective

• Long-term energy security.
• Clean energy transition.

INFRA & CONNECTIVITY

Andaman–Aceh Connectivity

Objective

Enhance connectivity between:

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Aceh

Expected Benefits

• Tourism.
• Trade.
• Maritime integration.
• Regional development.

Sabang Port Cooperation

Strategic Importance

• Located near the Malacca Strait.

Areas of Cooperation

• Cruise tourism.
• Shipbuilding.
• Ship repair.
• Offshore energy services.

Expected Benefits

• Technology transfer.
• Employment generation.
• Investment promotion.
• Regional prosperity.

DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY

Indonesia Open Network (ION)

About

• Indonesia launched Indonesia Open Network (ION) based on India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)

Significance

• Expands participation of MSMEs.
• Strengthens digital commerce.
• Promotes digital inclusion.

Telecommunications Cooperation

• MoU signed on telecommunications technologies and services.

Benefits

• Digital transformation.
• Improved connectivity.
• Inclusive economic growth.

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION & DISASTER MANAGEMENT

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

• Indonesia expressed intention to join International Big Cat Alliance.

Conservation Cooperation

Indonesia’s initiatives include:

• World Mangrove Center (WMC).
• International Tropical Peatland Center (ITPC).

Disaster Management

MoU signed on:

• Disaster preparedness.
• Capacity building.
• Information sharing.
• Disaster resilient infrastructure.

CDRI

• Recognition of the role of Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

SCIENCE, TECH & SPACE COOPERATION

Science & Technology

• Joint Commission Meeting on Science & Technology.
• Research, Technology and Innovation MoU.

Space Cooperation

Institutional Cooperation

Between:

• Indian Space Research Organisation
• National Research and Innovation Agency

Key Areas

• Satellite launches.
• Space research.
• Tracking facilities.
• Space ecosystem development.

Gaganyaan Mission

• Indonesia continues support through Biak Telemetry, Tracking and Command facilities.

Spaceport Cooperation

• Collaboration on development of a spaceport ecosystem in Indonesia.

Nuclear Energy Cooperation

Areas include:

• Nuclear safety.
• Research.
• Nuclear medicine.
• Agricultre.
• Water management.

CULTURE, HERITAGE, TOURISM & EDUCATION

Prambanan Temple Restoration

• India supports restoration of Prambanan Temple Compounds through the ASI.

Nalanda Copper Plate

• India gifted a replica of the historic Nalanda Copper Plate inscription.

Tagore–Dewantara Year (2026–27)

Purpose

• Mark 100 years of Rabindranath Tagore‘s visit to Indonesia in 1927.

Associated Personality

• Ki Hajar Dewantara

Activities

• Cultural exchanges.
• Educational programmes.
• Academic initiatives.
• People-to-people interactions.

Tourism Cooperation

• Promotion of two-way tourism.
• Visa facilitation discussions.

Education Cooperation

• Student exchanges.
• Academic collaboration.
• Joint research.

IIM Bengaluru Campus

• Proposal to establish a campus in Indonesia welcomed.

Election Cooperation

MoU between:

• Election Commission of India (ECI).
• General Election Commission (KPU) of Indonesia.

REGIONAL & MULTILATERAL COOPERATION

Global South

• Agreed to strengthen the voice of developing countries.

UNSC Reform

Both countries supported:

• Expansion of permanent membership.
• Expansion of non-permanent membership.
• Comprehensive reform of the UNSC.

BRICS

• Indonesia reaffirmed support for India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship.

Global Governance Reform

• Reform of international financial institutions.
• Strengthening multilateralism.

Major Platforms

• BRICS.
• G20.
• IORA
• ASEAN-led mechanisms.

OVERALL SIGNIFICANCE

For India

• Strengthens Act East Policy.
• Enhances maritime influence.
• Secures critical mineral supply chains.
• Deepens ASEAN engagement.

For Indonesia

• Supports industrial development.
• Attracts investments.
• Promotes digital transformation.

For Indo-Pacific

• Reinforces regional stability.
• Strengthens maritime security.
• Promotes a rules-based order.

CONCLUSION

The 2026 State Visit of Prime Minister Modi to Indonesia marked one of the most comprehensive engagements in recent India–Indonesia relations. Covering politics, defence, maritime security, trade, critical minerals, connectivity, digital economy, health, energy, culture, education, space and multilateral cooperation, the visit significantly strengthened the India–Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and reinforced both countries’ role as key pillars of a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

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