Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto will be the chief guest at India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations, symbolizing the increasing closeness between the two countries. As full strategic partners, India and Indonesia have had strong civilizational bonds for centuries and have been close partners in politics, trade, defense, and culture.
This visit assumes significance as it comes at the end of the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations between the two nations. The decision reiterates Indonesia’s stature in India’s Act East Policy and its vision for the Indo-Pacific.
Historical and Strategic Importance
Indonesia and India have shared a special bond that dates back more than 2,000 years. Both nations have been strong members of the Non-Aligned Movement after independence and have followed independent foreign policies ever since. Sukarno, Indonesia’s first president, was India’s first Republic Day chief guest in 1950.
Sandip Chakravorty, India’s Ambassador to Indonesia, commented, “President Prabowo’s visit is a landmark in our bilateral relations. Now that both of us aspire to be developed nations—Indonesia aims to become one by 2045, and India, by 2047—this partnership is expected to expedite relevant cooperation across domains.”
Diplomatic Sensitivity Avoided
President Prabowo’s visit was officially confirmed just ten days before his arrival, sparking speculation about diplomatic negotiations. Unlike the 2018 visit of President Joko Widodo, who visited Pakistan immediately after attending India’s Republic Day, President Prabowo will focus solely on India, respecting New Delhi’s sentiments. This aligns with India’s policy of “de-hyphenating” its relations with Pakistan.
Rising Trade and Economic Cooperation
The economic relations between India and Indonesia have expanded manifold. Bilateral trade has increased from $4.3 billion in 2005-06 to $29.4 billion in 2023-24. Indonesia is India’s second-largest trading partner in ASEAN and the eighth overall.
India imports coal, crude palm oil, and minerals from Indonesia while exporting refined petroleum products, vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and agricultural commodities. The EFD launched in 2023 aims to boost cooperation in health, education, digital technology, and the maritime sectors.
Cooperations anticipated during the Prabowo Subianto visit include these areas, further deepening economic ties between the two countries.
Defense and Security Cooperation
As maritime neighbors, India and Indonesia have enhanced defense and security cooperation. India is developing a deep-sea port in Sabang, Indonesia, near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This strategic initiative supports India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, countering China’s growing influence in the region.
Since the Defense Ministers’ Dialogue initiated in 2012 and defense cooperation agreement entered into in 2018, relations have become quite advanced. Indonesia’s eagerness to take India’s BrahMos missiles signifies mutual efforts for addressing regional security concerns, especially with respect to South China Sea.
Cultural and Tourism Boost
India and Indonesia continue to share a colonial history, cultural heritage, and maritime connections that play a pivotal role in strengthening people-to-people ties. The visit of President Prabowo is expected to strengthen cultural exchanges, tourism, and academic collaborations. The two countries want to use their maritime resources for sustainable economic growth.
The Republic Day visit of President Prabowo is set to open new avenues of bilateral cooperation, in keeping with the strategic, economic, and cultural aspirations of India and Indonesia. Leaders are likely to undertake a comprehensive review of ties and seek avenues for mutual growth in the Indo-Pacific region.