Modi’s Indo-Pacific mission begins in Jakarta.

India seeks stronger Defence, Trade, and Cultural partnerships.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his three-nation Indo-Pacific tour on Monday with a ceremonial welcome in Jakarta, highlighting the growing importance of India’s ties with Indonesia. A rare gesture marked his arrival, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto personally received him at the airport, accompanied by senior ministers. In a striking show of defence cooperation, Modi’s aircraft was escorted into Indonesian airspace by F-16 and Su-30 fighter jets of the Indonesian Air Force.

The visit underscores India’s strategic outreach at a time when regional powers are recalibrating their positions amid China’s assertive moves and shifting U.S. policies. For New Delhi, the trip strengthens its Act East policy and reinforces its vision of a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific. Modi noted that his discussions with President Prabowo would aim to “add momentum” to cooperation across diverse sectors.

India and Indonesia elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2018. Trade between the two nations reached nearly $25 billion in 2025-26, with Indonesia emerging as India’s second-largest partner in ASEAN. Defence ties have expanded significantly, with Indonesia becoming the second ASEAN country to acquire the BrahMos missile system. The country has also stationed a liaison officer at India’s Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region, strengthening maritime domain awareness.

Beyond defence, the two sides are exploring collaboration in critical minerals, where Indonesia holds a dominant position with vast nickel reserves and significant production of copper, bauxite, and tin. Digital cooperation is also on the agenda, with plans to link India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with Indonesia’s QRIS payment system, making cross-border transactions smoother for trade, tourism, and business.

Cultural diplomacy will feature prominently in the visit. Modi is scheduled to tour the historic Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta with President Prabowo, underscoring centuries-old civilizational ties. He will also engage with the Indian diaspora, which plays a vital role in strengthening people-to-people connections.

Following his engagements in Indonesia, Modi will travel to Melbourne for talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, focusing on defence, education, and mobility. The final leg of the tour will take him to Auckland, where he will meet New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to build on the recently signed Free Trade Agreement and deepen economic cooperation.

By weaving together defence, trade, technology, and cultural threads, Modi’s Indo-Pacific tour signals India’s intent to play a decisive role in shaping the region’s future stability and prosperity.