Modi begins Indonesia visit with defence and critical minerals talks

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Jakarta at the start of a three-nation tour that will also take him to Australia and New Zealand. The visit comes as India and Indonesia prepare to discuss defence cooperation, maritime partnerships, critical minerals, food security and the digital economy. Modi was received at the airport by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, underscoring the political importance both sides are attaching to the trip.

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Modi said the journey, which runs from July 6 to 11, would strengthen India's Act East Policy, its MAHASAGAR Vision and its outlook for a free and open Indo-Pacific. He said on social media that he was touched by Prabowo Subianto's gesture of welcoming him at the airport. The two leaders are due to meet on Tuesday, and officials expect the talks to cover a broad agenda that reflects the growing scope of the relationship.

This is Modi's fourth visit to Indonesia, but it is his first bilateral trip since the two countries elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in May 2018. The visit also includes a planned stop at the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta, which both leaders are expected to visit. Modi said the cultural visit would help deepen links between the two countries, adding a softer dimension to a trip otherwise dominated by strategic and economic issues.

The talks matter because Indonesia is a key maritime neighbour and an important partner in the Indo-Pacific. India and Indonesia adopted a Shared Vision of India-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in 2018, and the latest discussions are expected to build on that framework. Sources said defence and security cooperation has gained momentum through high-level visits, regular bilateral and multilateral exercises, and deeper defence industry ties, including the sale of BrahMos missiles.

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The economic dimension is also significant. Indonesia has become India's second-largest trading partner in the ASEAN region, with bilateral trade reaching US$24.78 billion in 2025-26, and more than 130 Indian companies are invested there. Officials also say Indonesia dominates the critical minerals sector, commanding roughly 21% of the world's nickel supply, which makes it strategically relevant for supply chains and industrial planning.

Food security and the digital economy are also on the agenda, suggesting the two sides are looking beyond traditional defence ties. What remains unclear is how far the two governments will go in turning the broad agenda into concrete agreements during the visit. The meeting is expected to clarify whether there will be new steps on maritime domain awareness, defence capacity building and cooperation in critical minerals.

The outcome will also indicate how both sides intend to translate their strategic partnership into practical gains across security, trade and technology.

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