India and Indonesia on Tuesday concluded a raft of agreements, including deals to supply BrahMos and Astra missiles and cooperation on critical minerals, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Prabowo Subianto stressing the importance of the bilateral partnership in upholding the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.
Indonesia was the first stop on Modi’s nearly week-long, three-nation tour that will take him to Australia and New Zealand. The visit aims to enhance economic and security cooperation, with a focus on strengthening defense relations and cooperation in the field of technology and commodities such as rare earth elements.
Following his talks with Prabowo at the Merdeka Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Modi said in a joint media interaction that the growing trust between the two countries has strengthened cooperation in the fields of defence, security and the maritime field. He added that the two countries’ coast guard forces will work jointly in the Indian Ocean to ensure maritime safety and security.
Prabowo said both sides want the Indo-Pacific region to be open and transparent, with an international law based order.
The conclusion of agreements to supply BrahMos cruise missiles and Astra beyond visual range air-to-air missiles to the Indonesian Armed Forces was announced during the joint media interaction. BrahMos Aerospace, an Indo-Russian joint venture, has signed a contract with the Indonesian Ministry of Defense to purchase the BrahMos missile system, while state-run Bharat Dynamics Limited has signed a deal with Republikorp, Indonesia’s leading private defense holding company, to purchase the Astra missile.
The two sides did not provide details of the defense deal, and people familiar with the matter said India is expected to supply two batteries of the BrahMos missile system, including missiles, missile launchers and guidance equipment, as part of Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to modernize its military. They said Indonesia initially sought only one battery, but this was later increased to two.
Indonesia has become the second member country of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), after the Philippines, to obtain the BrahMos cruise missile, which was co-developed by India and Russia and which proved its lethal capability during the conflict with Pakistan last year. This was the first time that the BrahMos deal was announced during a media interaction between the top leadership of the two countries.
The Astra missile deal, which India developed locally, may represent the first export of this system. The Ministry of External Affairs said the deals demonstrated the capability of the Indian defense industry and boosted defense exports.
The two sides also concluded a Memorandum of Understanding on Minerals and Technology Cooperation for Steel Supply Chain, a Memorandum of Understanding on Development of Rare Earth Magnets, a strategic joint venture between the Indian Steel Authority and PT Krakatau Steel to set up a stainless steel plate manufacturing facility in Indonesia, a Memorandum of Understanding on Agriculture Cooperation, and a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Medical Products Regulation.
Speaking in Hindi, Modi said: “Our comprehensive strategic partnership, established in 2018, reaches new heights today. We are making great strides in all areas of cooperation, including development, security, technology, culture and education.”
“I am confident that today marks the beginning of a new golden 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.”
Prabowo awarded the Order of Honour, Bintang Adipurna, Indonesia’s highest award, to Modi. The award is given to those who have rendered exceptional service to the unity and prosperity of Indonesia. Previous recipients of the award include Cuban leader Fidel Castro, former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and South African President Nelson Mandela.
