Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto, who arrived in New Delhi late Thursday night, is expected to help boost strategic ties between the maritime neighbours with ancient historic and cultural connections.
President Prabowo’s visit marks a key milestone in the bilateral relationship. This marks his first trip to India as Indonesia’s Head of State, and he will also serve as the Chief Guest at India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations.
Indonesia’s first President, Sukarno, was the guest of honour at India’s first Republic Day in 1950. And President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was the chief guest for Republic Day in 2011.
Adding to the symbolic importance, a 352-member marching and band contingent from Indonesia will participate in India’s Republic Day Parade—an unprecedented gesture of camaraderie and mutual respect, as this will be the first time an Indonesian contingent has joined a national day parade outside their country.
The Strategic Partnership
- Defense ties between India and Indonesia have grown significantly in recent years.
- Although neither side has formally confirmed it, there are reports indicating that President Prabowo could announce a USD 450 million deal to supply the BrahMos missile system to Indonesia during his visit.The 2018 Defence Cooperation Agreement has been instrumental in fostering stronger military collaboration.
- Joint military exercises like Garuda Shakti (Army) and Samudra Shakti (Navy), along with coordinated patrols (CORPAT), showcase robust operational alignment.
- Multilateral initiatives such as MILAN and KOMODO exercises emphasize their joint commitment to regional peace and stability.
Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific
As maritime neighbours, India and Indonesia share a strategic interest in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific. Indonesia’s geographic position, with control over the Strait of Malacca, underscores its critical role in securing vital shipping lanes.
Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to a stable maritime environment through the 2018 Shared Vision of Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, addressing challenges such as piracy, unregulated fishing, and freedom of navigation.
Indonesia’s economic reliance on China presents both challenges and opportunities for India. While Indonesia benefits from Chinese investments in infrastructure and technology, it remains wary of excessive dependence on Beijing, particularly concerning sovereignty issues in the Natuna Sea.
This ambivalence opens avenues for India to reinforce its position itself as a reliable and respectful strategic partner.
Economic and Trade Collaboration
The economic partnership between India and Indonesia is a key pillar of their relationship:
- Bilateral trade reached $29.4 billion in 2023-24, with a goal of achieving $50 billion in the near future.
- Indian companies have invested in diverse sectors in Indonesia, including infrastructure, textiles, and energy.
- Tourism is picking up, with over 600,000 Indian visitors to Bali in 2023-24, supported by direct flights between key cities in both countries.
Connectivity Challenges
While air connectivity between India and Indonesia has improved with direct flights on routes like Mumbai-Jakarta and Delhi-Bali, there remains a lack of direct flights between key capitals like Delhi and Jakarta.
This gap is attributed to insufficient demand and traffic on this specific route, highlighting the need for greater people-to-people exchanges and economic activities. Enhanced connectivity is critical for realizing the full potential of bilateral relations, especially in boosting trade, tourism, and investment.
Both countries must focus on generating demand through collaborative efforts, such as promotional campaigns and increased business-to-business engagement, to support sustainable flight operations.
Emerging Areas of Cooperation
- Space Exploration: Longstanding collaboration in space technology since 1997 includes ISRO’s telemetry stations in Papua to support satellite launches.
- Healthcare: Indian healthcare providers are partnering with Indonesian institutions to build sustainable hospitals and improve access to affordable care in Indonesia.
- Education and Training: India continues to support Indonesia with scholarship programs and training opportunities under the ITEC and ICCR initiatives.
Cultural and Historical Linkages
The historical connection between India and Indonesia spans centuries, with cultural exchanges and maritime trade serving as a foundation. Celebrations like the Bali Yatra in India highlight these enduring ties.
Hindu-Buddhist influences from India have left a profound impact on Indonesian art, architecture, and spiritual traditions, as evidenced by iconic landmarks like the Borobudur and Prambanan temples, while the Ramayana has been adapted and integrated into Indonesian culture. These shared legacies have continued to foster a sense of kinship between the two nations in the modern era.
However, as a senior diplomatic source put it, both sides tended to dwell too much on these historical linkages, and it was now time to focus on the future.
Political and Diplomatic Engagement
Indonesia plays a central role in India’s Act East Policy, with frequent high-level dialogues and institutionalized mechanisms such as Joint Commission Meetings and Foreign Office Consultations. Elevating the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018 underscores its importance.
Anticipated Outcomes
President Prabowo’s visit is expected to yield significant results:
- Key discussions on enhancing cooperation in defence, trade, health, digital technologies, and connectivity.
- Several agreements and partnerships are anticipated to be finalized.
- The convening of the 3rd CEO Forum will provide opportunities to deepen economic ties.
President Prabowo Subianto’s visit reflects the growing importance of India-Indonesia relations, with a shared vision of peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. By addressing challenges such as connectivity and embracing new areas of strategic collaboration, the two countries continue to strengthen a partnership that could shape the future of the region.
