A Golden Chapter in India–Indonesia Relations: Modi’s Jakarta Visit Reinforces Strategic Partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2026 visit to Indonesia has ushered in a new phase in India-Indonesia relations, highlighted by the BrahMos missile agreement, expanded defence cooperation, UPI integration, trade initiatives, and a shared commitment to strengthening the Indo-Pacific strategic architecture.

PM Modi and President Prabowo Subianto oversee agreements that deepen India-Indonesia cooperation across defence, trade, digital payments and the Indo-Pacific.

PM Modi arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia on Monday, July 6, 2026 for a three day visit at the “invitation of Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto.” Prime Minister Modi’s trip aims to advance India’s ACT East Policy and reinforce New Delhi’s commitment to a free and open Indo‑Pacific

Two Major Indo‑Pacific Democracies

As the largest economies in South and Southeast Asia, India and Indonesia are multi‑ethnic democracies, members of the G20 and BRICS, and increasingly aligned on issues such as supply‑chain resilience, food security, and maritime stability. Their cooperation is also shaped by geography, and their shared maritime neighborhood has pushed the two countries to deepen coordination on naval exercises, counter‑piracy, and coastal defense. Indonesia is India’s second‑largest trading partner within Southeast Asia.

 India and Indonesia elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2018, a framework designed to deepen cooperation across maritime security, defense modernization, counter‑terrorism, trade and investment, and people‑to‑people exchanges.

Defense Cooperation: BrahMos and Beyond

A major highlight of the visit was defense cooperation. Indonesia is one of a few Southeast Asian countries engaged in a BrahMos missile deal with India. The BrahMos is the "world's only supersonic cruise missile available for export.” These missiles are produced by BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited as a joint production between India and Russia. In March 2026, Indonesia agreed to buy one battery of Brahmos missiles and now are in negotiation with India to secure “a second battery worth around $30 million.” Prior to Prime Minister Modi’s visit, “Indian ambassador to Indonesia Sandeep Chakravorty said that sides hope to conclude certain agreements related to BrahMos during the visit.” An Indian government official stated on Tuesday, July 7th that  “India ​will supply ‌the BrahMos cruise missile ​system ​and the Astra ⁠air-to-air missile ​to Indonesia.” The deal was officially sealed during the high-level visit in Jakarta and marks a deepening of defense and strategic cooperation between the two countries. Further details on the terms of agreement have not been disclosed but the deal is estimated to be worth around $450 million, with other sources reporting it to be around $630 million.

Indonesia is now the “third foreign buyer of the missiles after the Philippines and Vietnam,” but several other countries have shown interest in the system. All the main buyers are in the Southeast Asian region and are in need of the missile's “powerful coastal defense and anti-ship capabilities,” due to their maritime security concerns. For Indonesia, the deal helps to bolster their maritime and air defense capabilities to ensure regional security in the Indo Pacific. Indonesian media noted that Prabowo used the visit to signal his commitment to strengthening Indonesia’s defense posture and diversifying partnerships beyond China and the U.S

For India, this deal represents a deepening of defence ties through commercial defence exports across Southeast Asia. There is “increasing global acceptance of Indian defence technologies developed under the ‘Make in India’ and defence indigenisation initiatives.” India is a large arms importer but is prioritising defence exports as part of its vision to promote a free and open Indo Pacific.

Golden Chapter of the India-Indonesia relationship

Around a dozen agreements were signed during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Jakarta and these pacts “included cooperation in minerals, steel supply chain technology, and space exploration.” President Prabowo mentioned that “India and Indonesia will accelerate preferential trade agreement talks.” Furthermore, India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) - the mobile based instant payment system, will also be integrated with Indonesia’s payment system for ease of travel and doing business. There was also a Memorandum of Agreement signed between the “election commissions of both nations,” to advance democratic cooperation.

During the trip, Prime Minister Modi was granted Indonesia’s highest honour “ ’Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia’  medal. In a speech, Prime Minister Modi mentioned that “democracies and diversity bring India and Indonesia closer.” In another joint press event, he hailed this time as the “golden chapter of the India-Indonesia partnership.” On June 8th, Modi will close out his Indonesia visit with a diaspora address, a high‑profile cultural visit to the Prambanan temple, and depart for Australia as part of his broader Indo‑Pacific diplomatic tour.

With India and Indonesia positioned as maritime powers in the Indo‑Pacific, the agreements signed this week and the high‑level visit signal not just bilateral momentum but a shared commitment to regional stability, resilient supply chains, and strategic autonomy- anchoring their partnership as a central pillar of the wider Indo‑Pacific architecture.

About the Author

Anagha Chakravarti is an International Relations graduate student at Johns Hopkins SAIS with research interests in Indo-Pacific geopolitics, security, and development.

Her work focuses on India, Southeast Asia, and emerging regional dynamics, drawing on experience across policy research, strategic affairs, and international engagement.