newspop
New Delhi : India and Indonesia have elevated their strategic partnership with the signing of a landmark defence agreement for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Jakarta.
The agreement marks a significant milestone in bilateral defence cooperation, reinforcing growing strategic ties between the two Indo-Pacific democracies. Developed through a joint venture between India and Russia, the BrahMos missile system has emerged as one of India’s most sought-after defence exports. Under the agreement, BrahMos Aerospace will supply the missile system to Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence, while reports suggest India will also provide Astra air-to-air missiles as part of the broader defence package.
The deal follows years of negotiations, with discussions dating back to 2023 for a contract estimated to be worth between $200 million and $350 million. Indonesia now joins the Philippines and Vietnam as key regional partners procuring Indian defence systems.
Prime Minister Modi held wide-ranging talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace, where both leaders reviewed cooperation in defence, trade, maritime security, critical minerals, agriculture and industrial development. They also witnessed the exchange of several Memorandums of Understanding aimed at expanding economic and strategic collaboration.
Further strengthening defence ties, Indonesia’s Republikorp and India’s Bharat Dynamics Limited signed an agreement on air-to-air missile cooperation. In the industrial sector, the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Indonesia’s Krakatau Steel agreed to jointly manufacture stainless steel slabs in Indonesia, highlighting efforts to build resilient regional supply chains.
President Prabowo described the expanding partnership as one that would contribute to peace, stability and prosperity across the region. Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s commitment to ensuring a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific, with particular emphasis on maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean.
The two leaders also agreed to accelerate negotiations on a preferential trade agreement and strengthen cooperation across critical supply chains, signalling a broader push to deepen economic integration alongside defence collaboration.
Following his engagements in Indonesia, Prime Minister Modi will continue his diplomatic tour with visits to Australia and New Zealand later this week.
