BrahMos, Astra head to Indonesia
India secures one of its biggest defence export packages as both nations deepen trust through defence ties
India and Indonesia on Tuesday elevated their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the signing of 14 agreements spanning defence, critical minerals, maritime security, space, education and technology, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto pledged to deepen cooperation and uphold a peaceful, rules-based Indo-Pacific.
In a major boost to India’s defence exports, the two countries signed agreements for the supply of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles to Indonesia. The defence contracts, estimated to be worth over $600 million, mark one of India’s biggest military export packages, underscoring the growing strategic trust between the two maritime neighbours.
The BrahMos agreement follows similar export deals with the Philippines and Vietnam, reflecting New Delhi’s expanding role as a defence supplier in Southeast Asia amid heightened regional security concerns. Addressing the media after delegation-level talks, PM Modi said, “A golden era is now at the threshold for our two nations.”
PM Modi, who arrived in Jakarta on Monday on the first leg of his three-nation tour that will also take him to Australia and New Zealand, said India and Indonesia were making significant progress across development, security, technology, culture and education under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2018.
The two leaders discussed the evolving security situation in the Indo-Pacific and reiterated support for a free, open, inclusive and rules-based regional order. President Subianto stressed the importance of an Indo-Pacific governed by international law, while Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to ASEAN centrality.
“There is strong synergy in our respective outlooks on the Indo-Pacific. India has always attached special importance to ASEAN centrality,” PM Modi said.
As part of enhanced maritime cooperation, Indonesia will post a Liaison Officer at India’s Integrated Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).
The two countries also agreed to expand cooperation between their Coast Guards to strengthen maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean.
The leaders further decided to jointly develop the strategically located Sabang Port, overlooking the Strait of Malacca and situated close to India’s Great Nicobar infrastructure project, a move expected to enhance maritime connectivity and strategic cooperation.
In another significant outcome, India and Indonesia signed an agreement to strengthen supply chain resilience in critical minerals and steel. Indian companies will invest in manufacturing stainless steel, nickel and rare-earth permanent magnets in Indonesia, sectors seen as vital for clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.
“In today’s world, supply chain resilience in technology has become critically important. We have concluded an important agreement to strengthen supply chain resilience in critical minerals and steel,” Modi said.
The two countries also agreed to integrate India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with Indonesia’s payment system, a move expected to facilitate trade, tourism and business transactions.
Among the other agreements were pacts covering medicines, food security, telecommunications, outer space, research and innovation, education and cultural exchanges.
Announcing a major educational initiative, Modi said the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore will establish a campus in Indonesia, further strengthening academic cooperation.
The two sides also agreed to deepen collaboration in the space sector through joint research, technology sharing and capacity building.
On global issues, Modi reiterated India’s emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy in addressing international conflicts.
“In this period of global turbulence, India believes that the role of dialogue and diplomacy has become more important than ever before,” he said, while reaffirming India’s support for a two-state solution to the Palestine issue and lasting peace in West Asia.
Highlighting the deep civilisational links between the two nations, Modi announced that India and Indonesia would jointly commemorate the centenary of Rabindranath Tagore’s historic visit to Indonesia by observing the Tagore-Dewantara Year of Cultural and Educational Diplomacy, honouring the shared intellectual legacy of Tagore and Indonesia’s first Education Minister, Ki Hajar Dewantara.
The agreements signed on Tuesday signal a broad-based expansion of India-Indonesia ties, with defence, maritime security, critical minerals and strategic connectivity emerging as the key pillars of the growing partnership.
