India & Indonesia Enhance Defence Industrial and Strategic Partnership

• India and Indonesia agree to boost defence industry and technology cooperation.
• Nations reaffirm commitment to a free and stable Indo-Pacific.
• Both sides expand joint training, maritime coordination, and defence exchanges.

India and Indonesia have agreed to deepen defence industry cooperation and strengthen their strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific. The announcement came after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Indonesia’s Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in New Delhi on Thursday for comprehensive bilateral talks.

During the meeting, both ministers underlined the need to maintain a free, open, and peaceful Indo-Pacific, emphasizing adherence to international law and respect for sovereignty. This shared position comes as China continues to expand its influence across the region.

A major outcome of the dialogue was the broad agreement to set up a Joint Defence Industry Cooperation Committee. The panel will focus on boosting technology transfer, joint research and development, certification alignment, and defence supply-chain linkages. Indonesia also recognized India’s experience in submarine development, especially the Scorpene-class programme, as valuable input for its own future plans.

Both countries agreed to enhance cooperation in maritime domain awareness, cyber resilience, and operational readiness. The two sides noted strong progress in joint military exercises across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and committed to expanding officer exchanges, joint training, and visits to defence institutions to improve interoperability.

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India and Indonesia also reiterated their shared interest in strengthening maritime security across the Indian Ocean. They further expressed support for peace efforts in Palestine, with Indonesia confirming its willingness to contribute peacekeeping personnel under a UN mandate.

India also announced the gifting of horses and a ceremonial carriage to Indonesia from the Indian Army’s Remount Veterinary Corps. Both ministers expressed satisfaction with the outcomes and agreed to maintain regular high-level exchanges to support regional stability and long-term cooperation.