Modi begins Indonesia visit to deepen Act East and Indo-Pacific ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Indonesia on the first leg of his three-nation tour. The visit is aimed at deepening bilateral ties and advancing India's Indo-Pacific agenda.

In Short

• President Prabowo Subianto received Narendra Modi at the airport on Monday
• The visit follows Prabowo’s Republic Day trip to India in January
• Both countries raised ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Indonesia on Monday on the first leg of his three-nation tour, which is aimed at further strengthening India’s Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR Vision and its commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto received Modi at the airport.

Ahead of leaving Delhi, Modi said his visit to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand would further strengthen India’s Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR Vision as well as “our outlook towards a free and open Indo-Pacific”. MAHASAGAR, or Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions, is India’s vision of security and growth for all regions.

Referring to ties with Indonesia, Modi said, “India and Indonesia elevated bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during my first visit to Indonesia in 2018.” He said this would be his first bilateral visit since the elevation of ties and that it comes after President Prabowo’s state visit to India as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in January 2025.

“India and Indonesia share strong civilisational and people-to-people ties, and my visit will further deepen all aspects of our multifaceted partnership,” Modi said. During the visit, he will also interact with the Indian diaspora in Indonesia and visit the Prambanan Temple complex at Yogyakarta with President Prabowo, which he described as another remarkable testament to the close cultural ties between the two countries. The centuries-old temple, around 17 kilometres northeast of Yogyakarta city, is considered Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple.

From Indonesia, Modi will travel to Melbourne at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The final leg of the tour will take him to Auckland at the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, as part of a visit that India says is focused on strengthening regional partnerships and its Indo-Pacific outlook.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends