Indonesian President Joko Widodo is currently visiting India. On Saturday, he met with PM Modi in New Delhi and discussed strengthening defense and trade relations between the two countries. Meanwhile, PM Modi indirectly targeted China again regarding the South China Sea.
India and Indonesia have decided to take their defense and trade relations to new heights. They also made several decisions that could concern China. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held extensive talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. During these talks, both countries agreed to work together to boost bilateral relations, especially in defense manufacturing and supply chain sectors.
President Joko Widodo of Indonesia is on a three-day visit to India. He will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations held on Sunday at Kartavya Path. After the talks, in his statement to the media, PM Modi called Indonesia an “important partner” of India, both in the ASEAN group of ten countries and in the Indo-Pacific region. He also mentioned that both nations are committed to a rules-based order in the region.
India-Indonesia friendship has created tension for China. Amid growing global concerns over China’s increasing military power in the Indo-Pacific, PM Modi stated, “We agree that freedom of navigation should be ensured in accordance with international law.” The Prime Minister mentioned that both countries had extensive discussions on various aspects of their bilateral relations. He said India and Indonesia have agreed to work together on defense manufacturing and supply chains. Modi also noted that the maritime security agreement between India and Indonesia would enhance cooperation in crime prevention, search and rescue, and capacity building. He added that both sides discussed the need to diversify trade and improve market access to promote overall economic relations.
Strong partnership in AI and digital infrastructure
The Prime Minister stated, “We have decided to strengthen cooperation in areas such as fintech, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and digital public infrastructure.” He also mentioned that both sides emphasized collaboration in maritime security, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and combating extremism. During the talks, the Indian side welcomed Indonesia’s membership in BRICS. Indonesian President Joko Widodo called the discussions meaningful, saying that both sides have agreed to enhance cooperation in several key areas of shared interest. Widodo added, “I have instructed my officials to work on enhancing our economic partnership with India.”
