Former Indian envoy Vidya Bhushan Soni has praised the outcomes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three-day state visit to Indonesia, describing it as a significant step in renewing and reimagining India's links with ASEAN member states. In an interview with ANI, Soni highlighted how the visit strengthens defence ties and counters growing Chinese influence in the region.
Shift in India's Foreign Policy Towards ASEAN
Soni recalled that India's policy shift towards the region began in the 1990s under Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, focusing on the emerging Asian Tigers. He noted that the Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR vision have expanded India's engagement beyond just looking east. "Now we have taken the decision to step forward. It's not just look east, but act east—which means for us, that eastern Pacific region is important from our security point of view, not only for the sea lanes, but also the overbearing presence of China," Soni said.
Countering Chinese Influence
Addressing China's growing assertiveness, Soni remarked: "China is suddenly hovering all over the region, wants to hobnob wherever they can possibly go. They have even gone to the Pacific nations... So that's why, for us, India, we have to think in terms of forging those, reimagining those links." He termed the MAHASAGAR vision as "excellent" and stressed the importance of freedom of movement and expression, which he said are threatened by China's overbearing presence.
Defence Cooperation Highlighted
Soni pointed to defence cooperation as one of the most significant outcomes of the visit. He revealed that Indonesia has shown interest in India's indigenous defence capabilities, particularly the BrahMos missile system and the Astra air-to-air missile. "India offers advanced technology at competitive costs, along with opportunities for local production and technology transfer," he said. This cooperation is expected to enhance strategic ties between the two nations.
Critical Minerals and Digital Infrastructure
The former diplomat also highlighted cooperation in critical minerals, noting that Indonesia's reserves of rare earth elements could help India strengthen supply chains for advanced technologies. "For India, access to rare earth elements is strategically important. These minerals are essential for developing advanced technologies, including superconductors, and Indonesia can become a reliable partner," Soni said. Additionally, he mentioned that Indonesia is looking to India for collaboration in healthcare, digital public infrastructure, and education. "They have been impressed by India's digital payment system, which works with remarkable speed. They want India's assistance in developing digital payment infrastructure," he added.
Historical and Civilisational Links
Soni emphasised that Indonesia occupies a crucial place in India's strategic calculus due to both historical ties and emerging economic opportunities. "The visit comes against the backdrop of centuries-old civilisational links. If you visit Bali, you will still find strong Hindu cultural traditions and temples dedicated to Hindu gods. These links now need to be complemented by modern strategic and economic partnerships," he said.
Reciprocal Warmth and Mutual Commitment
Recalling that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was the Chief Guest at India's Republic Day celebrations last year, Soni said the two countries have demonstrated a mutual commitment to elevating bilateral ties. "We gave importance to Indonesia by inviting its President as the Republic Day Chief Guest, and now Indonesia is reciprocating that warmth. Both countries have something valuable to offer each other. India can provide defence capabilities and digital expertise, while Indonesia can support India's critical mineral requirements," he added.
PM Modi's Remarks on the Visit
Earlier on Wednesday, PM Modi concluded his Indonesia leg of the three-nation visit, saying it had "opened new avenues for cooperation" across key sectors, including defence, maritime collaboration, artificial intelligence, and digital innovation. In a post on X, he expressed satisfaction over the outcomes and thanked President Prabowo Subianto and the people of Indonesia for their warm hospitality.
