India to Supply Indonesia With BrahMos Missiles in Modi Deal
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- India will supply Indonesia with BrahMos long-range missiles, with an agreement on "cooperation on BrahMos System" announced during Modi's visit to Jakarta on Tuesday (Jul 7).
- India and Indonesia also struck an air-to-air missile cooperation deal that "enhances technology collaboration and defence capabilities," per Indian foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal.
- The two countries agreed to collaborate on critical minerals — which Indonesia produces in abundance — alongside a new partnership between their companies in stainless steel and rare earth magnets.
- Coast guards of both nations will work together on maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean, Modi told reporters after his meeting with Prabowo.
- Prabowo and Modi agreed to accelerate negotiations on a preferential trade agreement and increase bilateral trade, with Prabowo calling economic cooperation "one of the main pillars" of relations.
- After Indonesia, Modi is set to visit Australia and New Zealand, per an Indian foreign ministry statement; the leaders will also tour the UNESCO World Heritage Prambanan temple in Yogyakarta on Wednesday together.
- Modi touted "growing trust" between Jakarta and New Delhi, saying the partnership underpinned cooperation in "defence, security and maritime affairs."
Why it matters: The deal gives India a marquee Southeast Asian customer for its flagship BrahMos missile and pairs it with access to Indonesia's critical minerals reserves, including rare earths. Indonesia gains long-range deterrent capability and a strategic partner with direct stakes in Indo-Pacific maritime stability, evidenced by joint Indian Ocean coast guard operations.
