Year-round, India and Indonesia have shared cultural and commercial ties, which have deepened their relations, and the amalgamation of colonial history and post-independence goals of political sovereignty, economic self-sufficiency and independent foreign policy are the major factors of the bilateral relationship.
Now these ties are dilating into the domain of more worldly political, economic, defence, science & technology cooperation ties. The adoption of Indiaʼs ‘Look East Policyʼ in 1991, and its modification to ‘Act Eastʼ in 2014, acted as a catalyst in the development of bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jakarta in 2018, during which they signed the ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ and the adoption of the ‘Shared Vision of India-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation’, led to the strengthening of bilateral relations. This was further followed by the G20 Summit in November 2022, the ASEAN-India Summit in September 2023 and then the visit of President Joko Widodo to attend the G20 Leaders Summit in New Delhi in September 2023, the inaugural Leaders’ session in the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit organised by India on 17 November 2023.
Why is Indonesia back on the agenda?
The first meeting between the two leaders was on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 18 November 2024.
There, Prime Minister Modi and President Prabowo Subianto discussed about the cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, defence and security, connectivity, tourism, health and people-to-people ties.
There was another meeting after the visit of President Subianto as the chief guest in India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations, followed by the state visit of PM Modi, ensuring the upward trajectory of India-Indonesia strategic partnership. The three-day visit from 6-8 July 2026 marked a milestone in the initiation of the restoration and conservation works at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Prambanan Temple Compounds in Yogyakarta.
Both the Indian Prime minister and the Indonesian President also initiated the political cooperation by welcoming the establishment of the India-IndonesiaParliamentary Friendship groups in their respective Parliaments and fostering mutual understanding among think tanks, academic institutions, and policy experts derived from three cornerstones:
- 3rd Policy Planning Dialogue(April 23)
- Jakarta Futures forum(August 5-6)
- 2nd Track 1.5 Dialogue(September 15-16)
Also solidified their defence and maritime partnership in the Indo-Pacific region. They commended the 3rd Defence Ministers’ Dialogue (New Delhi, 27 November 2025) and amplified the Defence industry cooperation, focusing on the BrahMos Missile System and Astra Air-to-Air Missile Agreement.
Re-affirmed the MoU on Maritime safety and security cooperation, solidifying the agreement between BAKAMLA RI and the Indian Coast Guard, by noting the importance of joint exercises, training and the placement of an ILO(International Liaison Officer) at the IFC-IOR in Gurugram alongside the cooperation in military medicine.
Also, both countries are condemning terrorism in all forms and calling for action against globally proscribed terrorists and entities listed under the UNSC 1267 committee(Point 14). By committing to a zero-tolerance approach, guaranteeing resistance in terror financing channels and the disruption of misuse of technologies/digital platforms for propaganda and radicalisation.
The 3rd India-Indonesia Security Dialogue (IISD) covers the plan to expand tech collaboration in cybersecurity, AI, digital forensics, and CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) cooperation. The meeting was concluded with eight further major points.
Is India’s push for major Atmanirbhar Bharat transforming it into a major hub for Global partnerships?
The paradigm of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) has undergone a tremendous shift, snapping strings from buyers to co-developers. The quintessential example is the above-mentioned meet of India and Indonesia, which explains how domestic self-reliance gives India the industrial strength to underpin complex, high-stakes international partnerships.
Indonesia signed a key contract to procure the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system for “Anti-Access/Area Denial” (A2/AD) deterrence and Astra air-to-air missiles aims to protect EEZ around Natuna Island, followed by the Philippines, and co-production frameworks by undertaking the Indian firm (like Bharat Dynamics Limited) and the Indonesian firm (like Republikorp) for the joint production of defence hardware and technological transfer.
The present concerning fact, Grey Zone warfare; India is preparing itself against China and simultaneously handling the rival front, Pakistan. This meeting will make India digitally self-reliant. The two leaders facilitated the enforcement of the Cross-Border QR payment linkage.
Indonesia possesses reserves of nickel and critical minerals crucial for the green transition, and India, as a technological partner, will optimise, deploy and expand value-added technological products.
Conclusion
The India-Indonesia meet will serve both nations a strategic edge for protecting their national security, sovereignty and reducing their economic reliance on Beijing.
The Indonesian stance of Bebas Aktif (Free and Active), through which it stays neutral and does not join any global power blocs and explicitly avoids openly confronting China, recently faced intense pressure as China’s sweeping “Nine-Dash Line” claims overlap with Indonesia’s EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) in the North Natuna Sea. To counter the grey zone tactics and coast guard patrols against Indonesian energy exploration and fishing rights, Indonesia deepens cooperation with India to strengthen defensive ties, as mentioned above regarding A2/AD for thwarting Beijing without sacrificing its economic ties and escalating to overt conflict with China.
