India and Indonesia seek to shape future of Indo-Pacific, more inclusive cooperation for Global South: Report

New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) The gradual rediscovery of Asia’s oldest relationships between India and Indonesia is the beginning of a new chapter through which the countries seek to shape the future of the Indo-Pacific, stated a report on Sunday.

“The frequency of leadership exchanges, ministerial visits, strategic dialogues, defence consultations, think-tank collaborations, and institutional partnerships over the past three years suggests that both South Block and Indonesia’s Kementerian Luar Negeri (KEMLU) are investing unprecedented political capital in the bilateral relationship,” said a report by the Sunday Guardian.

Earlier this month, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono confirmed that preparations are underway for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit in July.

He described it as a reciprocal gesture to Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to India as the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations last year, while noting that bilateral discussions have expanded beyond traditional diplomacy to encompass cooperation in various sectors.

These sustained engagements are raising the questions of “Why is Indonesia suddenly occupying such a prominent position in India’s diplomatic priorities?” and why this relationship is getting more strategic attention than India’s engagements with other countries in Southeast Asia?

“Final negotiations on the possible acquisition of the BrahMos missile system, expanding naval cooperation, and the growing emphasis on the Malacca Strait and the development of a spaceport in Biak, in the province of Papua, demonstrate that both countries increasingly perceive each other as indispensable maritime partners. Nevertheless, these developments explain only part of the story,” said the report.

The report also noted that the bilateral trade has neared USD 30 billion and shows a steady growth, making Indonesia one of India’s most important partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“Speaking at the Jakarta Futures Forum last year, Samir Saran, president of the Observer Research Foundation, remarked that the India-Indonesia relationship is, in many respects, larger than India’s partnerships with the United Kingdom, Japan, or Germany. However, it receives remarkably little attention in India’s strategic discourse. More importantly, he argued that the Indo-Pacific would truly come into its own only when both countries, together with like-minded partners, assume greater responsibility for shaping the region’s future,” the report noted.

According to India’s ambassador to Indonesia, Sandeep Chakravorty, India and Southeast Asia today enjoy a relationship free from territorial disputes, which is characterised by strategic convergence, expanding economic engagement, and shared membership in the Global South.

“The forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi should therefore be viewed not merely as another diplomatic exchange but as an opportunity to redefine the intellectual foundations of relations between the two countries,” said the report.

–IANS

ksk/uk