NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Indonesia on Monday, kicking off the first leg of his three-nation tour with a ceremonial welcome that included an Indonesian Air Force fighter jet and and Indonesia president personally welcoming him at the airport. Fighter jets escorted the PM as he entered Indonesia airspace. Then he was received by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta and welcomed with a traditional dance performance.PM Modi’s visit to Indonesia, from July 6 to 8 at the invitation of President Prabowo, is his fourth trip to the country and the first bilateral visit since India and Indonesia elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018.During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to meet members of the Indian diaspora and accompany President Prabowo to the UNESCO-listed Prambanan Temple Complex in Yogyakarta, which he has described as a symbol of the deep civilisational links between the two countries.The visit is expected to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with defence and maritime cooperation high on the agenda. Bilateral security ties have expanded in recent years through high-level exchanges, joint military exercises, defence industry collaboration and the sale of BrahMos missiles to Indonesia.Indonesia is India’s second-largest trading partner in ASEAN, with bilateral trade reaching $24.78 billion in the 2025–26 fiscal year. More than 130 Indian companies have investments across various sectors of the Indonesian economy.Critical minerals are also expected to feature prominently in bilateral discussions. Indonesia holds around 21 per cent of the world’s nickel reserves and is among the leading global producers of copper, bauxite and tin, making it a key partner for India’s supply chain and energy transition goals.The Prime Minister’s visit is expected to deepen institutional cooperation and strengthen trade and investment links in the critical minerals sector, while reviewing the full spectrum of bilateral ties.After Indonesia, Modi will travel to Australia and New Zealand as part of his three-nation tour. Ahead of his arrival, members of the Indian diaspora in Indonesia expressed optimism that the visit would pave the way for greater cooperation in mining, energy, infrastructure and emerging technologies.Additionally, PM Modi said the tour would build on the strong momentum in India’s ties with Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, with a focus on expanding cooperation across strategic, economic and people-centric sectors.“My visit to Indonesia and Australia in the Eastern and Southern Indian Ocean, respectively, followed by New Zealand, will further strengthen India’s Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR Vision, as well as our outlook towards a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the Prime Minister said in his departure statement.The MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions) framework serves as India’s vision for promoting security, stability and inclusive growth across the maritime domain.
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