The 3rd India-Indonesia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue was held in New Delhi, co-chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Indonesian counterpart, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.
- Objective: To strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, focusing on defence industrial collaboration and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.
II. Institutional Mechanisms:
Joint Defence Industry Cooperation Committee (JDICC):
- Purpose: A newly proposed body to facilitate technology transfer, joint R&D, certification harmonisation, and supply-chain linkages.
- Significance: Moves the relationship from “buyer-seller” to “co-development and co-production partners.”
- Multilateral Platforms:
- Both nations agreed to intensify collaboration within the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), where India currently holds the chair.
- Strategic Convergence: Noted strong alignment between the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), emphasizing respect for international law (UNCLOS) and sovereignty.
III. Defence Acquisitions:
- Progress: Significant strides were made towards finalizing the deal for BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
- Variants: Indonesia has expressed interest in both the Naval variant (for coastal defence) and the Air-launched variant (for integration with Su-30 jets).
- Strategic Impact: If signed, Indonesia will be the second ASEAN nation (after the Philippines) to acquire the BrahMos system.
IV. Military-to-Military Cooperation:
- Republic Day Connection: The dialogue recalled the participation of a 352-member Indonesian contingent in India’s Republic Day Parade 2024.
- Key Joint Exercises:
- Garuda Shakti: Special Forces exercise.
- Samudra Shakti: Naval exercise.
- IND-INDO CORPAT: Coordinated Patrols to secure international maritime boundary lines.
