Context:
The visiting Indonesia’s President Subianto has been the chief guest at India’s Republic Day since Indonesia’s President Sukarno attended the first Republic Day of India in 1950.
Historical Importance of India-Indonesia Relations
- Ancient Relations
- India and Indonesia have an ancient bond that binds them into deep historical relationships in terms of trading, traveling and cultural exchange such as the dissemination of Javanese Hinduism Vedic scriptures and Sanskrit.
- Solidarity Against Imperialism
- India supported the Indonesian independence struggle against Dutch rule by prohibiting overflights from the Netherlands and supplying planes to evacuate people during the colonial period. Sukarno was the first president of Indonesia and expressed his gratitude to India for this gesture in 1950.
- Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
- Both countries have played a paramount role in the formation of NAM as they were opposed to great power politics mainly at the Bandung Conference.
- Common Objectives of Development
- India and Indonesia have been kept together due to a common vision of justifiable development and religious tolerance within their pluralistic societies.
Geopolitical Cooperation and Common Concern
- Current Geopolitical Situation
- In the wake of recent developments in both countries, they have found common ground on issues ranging from western sanctions, US-China competition ,China’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific and food fertilizer and fuel security.
- G20 and BRICS
- Indonesia’s role in G20 summits especially in Bali 2022 and Delhi 2023 and its latest induction into BRICS has further sunk the common objective between India and Indonesia. Subianto’s visit is an extension of this evolving relationship which now stretches from Bandung to an extended BRICS.
Key Highlights of MoUs Signed Between the Countries
- Regional Peace and Security
- Both committed to peace and security together with freedom of navigation in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific area while showing respect for International Law Maritime Cooperation Signing agreements on safety and security issues between the two countries coast guards.
- Defence and Economic Cooperation
- Indonesia inked its defence cooperation agreement with India and stated that it will send a high level defence delegation to the country shortly.
- Agreements were made on cooperation in fields like defence, manufacturing, supply chains ,cyber security, antiterrorism and deradicalization.
- Infrastructure and Business Opportunities
- The Indonesian government also extended an invitation to Indian businesses to participate in the country’s infrastructure sector as one of the sectors of considerable investment opportunity.
- Health and Education Cooperation
- Agreements regarding health traditional medicine, and cultural exchange were signed.
- Indonesia wants to engage India’s hospital chains, medical training for doctors, and internship of healthcare professionals to improve the state of health in Indonesia.
- Historical and Diplomatic Ties
- President Subianto recalled and stated that India had played a role in supporting Indonesia’s fight for independence after the World War pointing to financial and medical aid, it extended and the early recognition it gave to Indonesia’s sovereignty.
- He established a connection between Indias advocacy for SouthSouth cooperation and the historical IndiaIndonesia consensus at the 1955 Bandung Conference
Indonesia Joined BRICS
- Indonesia joined BRICS on January 7, 2025 and India played a supporting role in this process.
- Both countries are interested in further strengthening their cooperation under multilateral platforms such as ASEAN and BRICS.
Conclusion
- The talks between the two heads of state touched upon a shared vision for a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region increased economic and defense cooperation and continuation of historical camaraderie between India and Indonesia.
