Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Indonesia today, Monday, for a two-day visit, in a first bilateral trip to the country after eight years.
This is the first stop on a three-nation tour that will also take him to Australia and New Zealand. Modi will meet Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, and several agreements are expected to be signed, including defense, minerals, healthcare, education, and space cooperation.
The most talked-about item on the agenda is the Brahmos missile deal. Indonesia had already agreed to buy one battery of BrahMos missiles from India in March 2026, making it the second country after the Philippines to purchase the system.
Now, Indonesia wants a second battery, worth around $300 million, and is asking India for easier payment terms. The BrahMos is the world’s only supersonic cruise missile available for export.
It flies at three times the speed of sound and is used for defending coastlines and ships. A country like Indonesia, which is made up of thousands of islands with a strong coastline, is important.
The second important topic in the meeting is minerals. Indonesia holds some of the world’s largest reserves of nickel. Nickel is a key mineral used in electric vehicle batteries.
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India wants to set up joint factories with Indonesian companies to process nickel locally, rather than letting it all go to China.
Right now, China controls about 75% of Indonesia’s nickel refining capacity. India sees an opportunity to reduce that dominance and secure its own supply chain for the clean energy future.
Beyond missiles and minerals, the deeper purpose of this visit is maritime security. India and Indonesia sit at either end of the Indian Ocean, one of the most important trade routes of the world.
Both countries share an interest in keeping this region stable, safe, free, and governed by international law, especially at times when China’s influence in the region is growing.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the visit is part of India’s broader “Act East” strategy, deepening ties with Southeast Asian nations to play a stronger role in the Indo-Pacific.
Modi’s last visit to Indonesia was eight years ago. This trip comes after Indonesian President Prabowo attended India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2025 as chief guest, a sign of how much the relationship has grown.
