Indonesia
- estd. 1949, rooted in shared anti colonial legacy, deepened over years through cooperation in trade, defence, maritime security
- 2024 marked 75 yrs of ties
Areas of cooperation
- defence: Samudra Shakti 23 joint exercise; Brahmos exports potential
- strategic partnership - boosted during PM Modi 2018 visit
- maritime security: SAGAR vision aligns w/ Indonesia’s Global Maritime Fulcrum
- Trade: 2nd largest ASEAN trading partner: $29B in 2023-24
- Terrorism cooperation: MLAT, extradition pacts
- connectivity: Sabang Port, Andaman - Aceh Link boost regional maritime cooperation
- Global forums: NAM, EAS, UN, G20
Siginficance
- geostrategic: indonesia controls vital SLoC against piracy, smuggling
- Sabang Access: strengthen india’s presence in IOR
- trade growth: 4.3B2005to29.4B 2023
- LCSS: Local currency settlement system signed in 2024
- vision alignment: SAGAR & GMF promote stable indo pacific
- anti terror efforts: interfaith dialogues for peace & tolerance
Challenges
| Challenge | Details |
|---|
| China influence | historical ties may prevent Indonesia from fully countering chinese assertiveness |
| Cold war legacies | Past differences & support for pakistan impacted earlier relations |
| Maritime border issues | unsettled demarcation in Andaman sea - challenge |
| Economic disparities | uneven trade & development levels persist |
| cultural barriers | language & societal difference affect P2P exchanges |
| competing interest | disagreements on regional policies occasionally hinder alignment |
Way forward
- Economic engageent thru bilateral trade & investment
- prioritize maritime boundary demarcation
- strategic engagement: align society priorities in indo pacific
- People centric ties: promote academic, cultural & youth exchanges
- High level engahenment: regular summit to deepen mutual trust