Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jakarta on Monday to a grand ceremonial welcome, with Indonesian Air Force fighter jets escorting his aircraft upon entering Indonesian airspace. This marked the beginning of his three-nation tour, which also includes visits to Australia and New Zealand.
Warm Reception in Jakarta
Upon landing, PM Modi was warmly received by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The welcoming ceremony featured a traditional dance performance, highlighting the cultural ties between the two nations.
In his departure statement, PM Modi emphasized that the high-level engagement would build on the robust momentum in India's relations with these key partners, expanding cooperation across strategic, economic, and people-centric sectors. He stated, 'My visit to Indonesia and Australia in the Eastern and Southern Indian Ocean, respectively, followed by New Zealand, will further strengthen India's Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR Vision, as well as our outlook towards a free and open Indo-Pacific.'
MAHASAGAR Vision and Security Cooperation
The MAHASAGAR framework—Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions—serves as India's institutional blueprint for fostering security, stability, and inclusive growth across the maritime domain. This visit underscores the deepening defence and maritime cooperation between India and Indonesia, a cornerstone of their bilateral agenda.
Strategic security ties have gained robust momentum, characterized by an expanding scope of high-level visits, regular bilateral and multilateral exercises, and deeper defence industry cooperation, including the significant sale of BrahMos missiles.
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
PM Modi is in Indonesia from July 6 to 8 at the invitation of President Prabowo Subianto. This is his fourth visit to Indonesia and the inaugural bilateral visit since the relationship was formally elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in May 2018. During his schedule, he will interact with the Indian diaspora and accompany President Prabowo on a visit to the Prambanan Temple Complex in Yogyakarta, a UNESCO-listed site symbolizing deep cultural links.
Trade and Economic Ties
Indonesia is India's second-largest trading partner within the ASEAN region, with bilateral trade reaching USD 24.78 billion during the 2025-26 fiscal year. Over 130 Indian enterprises maintain active investments across diverse sectors of the Indonesian economy. Critical mineral cooperation is also set to take centre stage, as Indonesia commands roughly 21% of the world's nickel reserves and is a top global producer of copper, bauxite, and tin.
PM Modi's visit aims to structurally strengthen bilateral institutional mechanisms and trade channels in this vital domain, reviewing ties and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership.
Indian Diaspora Expectations
Ahead of his arrival, members of the Indian diaspora expressed hopes for deeper cooperation across mining, energy, infrastructure, and emerging technologies. The three-day official visit is expected to reinforce the partnership between the two nations.
