India, Indonesia Strike BrahMos Missile Deal in Jakarta
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- India and Indonesia agreed on a BrahMos missile system deal during PM Modi's three-day state visit to Jakarta, with Indian foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal confirming the agreement in a post on X.
- Jaiswal also announced a separate air-to-air missile cooperation agreement, saying it "enhances technology collaboration and defence capabilities" between the two countries.
- Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto agreed to deepen cooperation on critical minerals — which Indonesia produces in abundance — and steel, with Modi announcing a "new partnership" between companies in stainless steel and rare earth magnets.
- The two nations' coast guards will work together on maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean, per Modi's remarks to reporters.
- Prabowo called economic cooperation "one of the main pillars" of bilateral relations, with both leaders agreeing to increase bilateral trade and accelerate negotiations on a preferential trade agreement.
- Modi is set to visit Australia and New Zealand after concluding his Indonesia visit, according to an Indian foreign ministry statement.
Why it matters: The BrahMos deal extends India's missile export footprint into Southeast Asia's largest economy, while the critical minerals and steel pacts give India a foothold in Indonesia's nickel and rare earth supply chains. With coast guard cooperation now extending into the Indian Ocean, the visit moves India-Indonesia ties from symbolic diplomacy to operational security and trade alignment.
