India and Indonesia on Tuesday elevated their relationship with landmark agreements covering the export of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, alongside a sweeping package of initiatives spanning maritime security, critical minerals, digital technology, healthcare, agriculture and education.
The agreements, announced after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, mark the most significant expansion of bilateral ties since the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018. Together, they reflect a broad effort to strengthen defence cooperation while building resilient economic and technology partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.
The most closely watched outcome of the visit was the agreement covering the BrahMos missile system, adding Indonesia to the growing list of Southeast Asian countries opting for India’s flagship supersonic cruise missile. The pact follows Jakarta’s earlier decision to procure the weapon and lays the foundation for future acquisitions.
The two sides also concluded an Air-to-Air Missile Cooperation Agreement between Bharat Dynamics Limited and Republikorp, paving the way for Indonesia to induct India’s indigenous Astra beyond-visual-range missile. Jakarta’s decision was influenced by the missile’s demonstrated operational performance and its compatibility with the Indonesian Air Force’s Su-30 fighter fleet. Detailed technical discussions are expected before commercial contracts are finalised.
The agreements mark another milestone in India’s emergence as a defence exporter while significantly strengthening Indonesia’s air and maritime deterrence capabilities.
“Growing trust between India and Indonesia is strengthening our defence, security and maritime cooperation. Today we have reached agreements to enhance defence exchanges, disaster management and industrial cooperation,” Modi said.
The two countries also extended their maritime safety and security cooperation agreement and announced that Indonesia will deploy a Liaison Officer to India’s Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram, improving real-time maritime domain awareness and coordination on shipping, piracy, illegal fishing and humanitarian assistance.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to closer cooperation between their navies and coast guards through joint exercises, capacity building and maritime surveillance.
Another major strategic outcome was the decision to accelerate development of Sabang Port, located at the northern tip of Sumatra near the entrance to the Strait of Malacca. Its proximity to India’s upcoming Great Nicobar trans-shipment project gives the port growing importance in strengthening maritime connectivity and logistics across the eastern Indian Ocean.
Beyond defence, the visit produced an equally ambitious economic and technology agenda aimed at aligning India’s Vision 2047 with Indonesia’s Golden Indonesia 2045 roadmap.
A key focus was critical minerals and advanced manufacturing. The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in steel, nickel and rare-earth permanent magnets as both seek to secure supply chains for electric vehicles, renewable energy, electronics and defence manufacturing.
“In today’s era, the supply chain resilience of technology holds great significance. An important agreement was reached to further strengthen the supply chain in the sectors of critical minerals and steel,” Modi said.
He added that “a new beginning is being made in partnerships between our companies regarding stainless steel and rare-earth magnets.”
As part of the initiative, the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Indonesia’s PT Krakatau Steel will explore establishing a stainless-steel slab manufacturing facility in Indonesia. Another agreement involving the Non-Ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre, Midwest Ltd and PT PERMINAS will focus on developing rare-earth magnets.
Digital cooperation also featured prominently. The two leaders announced progress towards linking India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with Indonesia’s payment ecosystem, a move expected to make cross-border transactions easier for businesses, tourists and investors.
“We are delighted that India’s UPI is set to integrate with Indonesia’s payment system. This will boost both ease of doing business and ease of travel,” Modi said.
Indonesia will also launch the Indonesia Open Network (ION), modelled on India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), while the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on research, technology and innovation to promote collaboration in emerging technologies.
The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore will establish a campus at Indonesia’s Singhasari Special Economic Zone, adding an education dimension to the expanding partnership.
The leaders also agreed to extend their framework agreement on cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, enabling continued collaboration on satellite applications, space technology and scientific research.
Agriculture and food security emerged as another important pillar of cooperation. India announced the supply of 100 tonnes of DWR-162 wheat seeds to Indonesia and signed an agreement covering sustainable farming, technology exchange and agricultural productivity. Indonesia has also expressed interest in learning from India’s Public Distribution System, digital agriculture platforms and food security programmes.
Healthcare cooperation was strengthened through agreements between India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and Indonesia’s Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) on medical product regulation, along with a separate implementation agreement on health workforce collaboration aimed at improving pharmaceutical standards and expanding professional exchanges.
The visit also produced agreements between democratic institutions. The Election Commission of India and Indonesia’s General Elections Commission signed a cooperation agreement on election management and related technologies, with India also offering assistance in developing electronic voting machines tailored to Indonesia’s requirements.
Cultural ties received fresh attention as India announced support for the conservation and restoration of the Prambanan Temple Complex in Yogyakarta. The two countries also launched the Tagore-Dewantara Year of Cultural and Educational Diplomacy, commemorating the historic links between Rabindranath Tagore and Indonesian educationist Ki Hajar Dewantara.
Addressing the media after delegation-level talks, Modi said the relationship had entered a new phase.
“The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership we forged in 2018 is taking a new flight today. We are taking important steps forward in every sector—development, security, technology, culture and education,” he said, expressing confidence that “a golden chapter of the India-Indonesia partnership begins today.”
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi was awarded the ‘Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia’, the country’s highest civilian honour, by President Subianto at the Istana Merdeka, or Presidential Palace.
For Indonesia, India is emerging as a key partner in defence, technology and manufacturing. For India, the agreements reinforce Indonesia’s importance as a leading Southeast Asian partner at the crossroads of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, with cooperation now spanning everything from advanced weapons and maritime security to critical minerals, digital connectivity and resilient supply chains.
