On July 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jakarta for a two-day state visit. Indonesia was the first leg of Modi’s three-nation tour, which also includes official visits to Australia and New Zealand. This visit, which was Modi’s first standalone bilateral visit to Indonesia since both sides elevated their partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018, resulted in the two sides signing 20 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) or agreements, with substantive cooperation in areas including critical minerals, digital cooperation, maritime security, healthcare, agriculture, disaster management. India and Indonesia also agreed to continue work on the Sabang port project in Aceh.
However, it was the finalization of the long-pending agreement on cooperation in the field of defense, including the BrahMos missile system and Astra air-to-air missiles, that was the highlight of the visit. Although commercial details have not been disclosed, BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russia joint venture missile manufacturer, reportedly signed a contract with Indonesia’s Defense Ministry to supply the BrahMos missile system, covering supporting infrastructure, operator training, and maintenance services. The estimated cost is $630 million.
