Jakarta witnessed a significant strengthening of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and India. During a bilateral meeting at the Merdeka Palace on Tuesday (7/7/2026), President Prabowo Subianto and Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally witnessed the signing of 16 strategic agreement documents designed to bolster the partnership between the two nations in the future.
The defense sector was one of the primary focuses of the meeting. Indonesia is officially exploring the procurement of the BrahMos missile system, followed by a collaborative development of air-to-air missiles between Bharat Dynamics and Republikorp. This step is viewed as a concrete effort to modernize the national primary weapons system while strengthening national sovereignty.
On the other hand, cooperation in technology and research also made significant progress. The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) along with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) extended their framework for space exploration for peaceful purposes. Additionally, industrial collaboration was strengthened through a partnership between PT Krakatau Steel and the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) for the development of steel supply chain technology.
This partnership is not limited to heavy sectors but also extends to cultural and health aspects. Both countries agreed to conserve the Prambanan Temple Complex and to strengthen the regulation of medical products and the exchange of healthcare professionals. These various memorandums of understanding also cover agriculture, telecommunications, and human resource development as the foundation for a more comprehensive partnership.
