Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Indonesia’s highest award – the ‘Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia’ – during his ongoing visit to the country, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced on Tuesday.
The Medal of Honor Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia is awarded to individuals who have rendered exceptional service to the unity, continuity and prosperity of the Republic of Indonesia.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Indonesia on Monday at the start of a three-nation tour that will also take him to Australia and New Zealand and focus on enhancing cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, defence, technology and critical minerals with India’s key partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
After the Indonesian Air Force’s F-16 and Su-30 fighter jets escorted Prime Minister Modi’s private plane as it entered the country’s airspace, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto received the Prime Minister upon his arrival in Jakarta, along with four ministers as a special gesture.
Prime Minister’s strategic visit to Indonesia
The visit is expected to lead to a series of strategic outcomes that could significantly deepen Indo-Indonesian relations in the areas of defence, maritime security, critical minerals and technology.
One of the major announcements is likely to be the joint development of the Indonesian port of Sabang, located at the mouth of the strategically vital Strait of Malacca. The project is expected to strengthen India’s naval presence in the eastern Indian Ocean, enhance logistics cooperation with Indonesia and enhance New Delhi’s strategic footprint in the Indo-Pacific region. The port is located near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India and is about 100 miles from the upcoming Great Nicobar Port project.
Defense cooperation is also expected to receive a major boost. Indonesia is expected to expand its stock of BrahMos missiles by purchasing an additional battery initially, with the possibility of increasing the order to three batteries over time. India will also help Jakarta deploy the systems, strengthening defense ties between the two countries.
In another important development, Indonesia is expected to purchase India’s indigenous Astra Beyond Visual Range (BVRAAM) air-to-air missile. The DRDO-developed missile, which has a range of over 100 km, can be seamlessly integrated with Indonesia’s Su-30 fighter jet, marking another milestone in India’s efforts to emerge as a major defense exporter.
The two sides are also expected to enhance cooperation in the critical minerals sector, with India planning to invest in steel, nickel and rare earth permanent magnet manufacturing facilities in Indonesia. The partnership aims to secure flexible supply chains for electric vehicles, clean energy, electronics and defense manufacturing.
In addition, India is expected to support Indonesia in developing customized electronic voting machines as per the country’s requirements, reflecting New Delhi’s growing role as a trusted technology partner and demonstrating its expertise in conducting elections using electronic voting machines on a large scale.
