India’s Maritime Arc Gains Momentum with Indonesia

Indonesia is India’s closest maritime neighbour, separated by 100 nautical miles. Trump administration’s decision to restore the old name of US Pacific Command, an attempt to de-emphasise the Indo-Pacific, is now emerging as a powerful regional binding force with PM Modi’s visit to Indonesia. Revoking the nomenclature adopted in 2017 while extracting the region from the superpower contestations has prompted the littorals in the region to align and recentre energies for inclusive growth and prosperity.

PM Modi embarked on a three-nation visit to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand on July 6th. Greeted with a historic welcome, with Indonesian Air Force F-16 and Sukhoi-30 fighter jets escorting Air India One after entering Indonesian airspace, upon his touchdown, PM Modi was accorded a gun salute. Warmly received by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and four Cabinet Ministers on the tarmac, PM Modi’s arrival in Jakarta was marked by unusual gestures of cordiality.

The high notes of the diplomatic symphony, brimming with geniality, were witnessed in the grand ceremonial reception accorded to PM Modi at Istana Merdeka, the Presidential Palace. At the Official banquet, President Prabowo candidly admitted, “I follow your career, and I copy many of your programs. I don't mind admitting it because it succeeds for hundreds of millions of people with the same background as Indonesia”, and joked, “very happy that there is no copyright” on PM Modi’s program. The remarks, besides validating the governance initiatives of PM Modi, endorse the positive results of initiatives adopted from India. Indonesian delegation toured India to study agricultural innovations, and this open acknowledgement underscores growing policy cooperation between the countries.

Displaying a rare camaraderie, President Prabowo accompanied PM Modi to the Indian Community reception, attended PM Modi’s address to the Joint Session of Parliament, and conferred on him the highest civilian award of Indonesia- Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipurna or Star of the Republic of Indonesia. President Prabowo’s invocation of “Indian DNA” claims, apart from his earlier revelations at the Presidential Banquet hosted by President Murmu on his India visit as Guest of Honour for the Republic Day celebrations in 2025, besides drawing smiles, highlighted the immense respect he holds for the cultural relationship with India. His special gesture of riding along with PM Modi for the launch of the India-assisted restoration of the Prambanan Temples, a display of deep mutual respect and appreciation for civilisational connections, earned the praise of millions of Indians.

Built in the 9^th century, the Prambanan Temple complex, the largest in Indonesia, is a magnificent Hindu architectural and engineering marvel. Dedicated to Trimurti- Bhagwan Shiva, Bhagwan Vishnu and Bhagwan Brahma- it stands as an enduring symbol of shared civilisational and cultural heritage. By spearheading the restoration of Hindu heritage centres across South East Asia, India is reclaiming its civilisational heritage.

PM Modi’s visit to Indonesia, while setting a new benchmark in bonhomie and friendship, was compellingly significant in terms of bilateral outcomes. Besides reviving heritage beyond borders, the comprehensive and intensive discussions laid a strong foundation for a Free, Open, Inclusive Indo-Pacific. Sitting astride the crucial trade routes connecting the two oceans, Indonesia and India are the two most important maritime gatekeepers of the Indo-Pacific region. To beef up maritime security, countries have renewed a security cooperation arrangement between the Indian Coast Guard and BAKAMLA RI. Indonesia is also deploying a Liaison officer to the Information Fusion Centre- Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).

Indonesia’s security challenges are twofold. Given its location along the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC), ensuring the safety of the waterways is both a matter of national security and an economic imperative. Additionally, the growing Chinese incursions into the North Natuna Sea are pushing the archipelago to the edge. Indonesia’s interest in enhancing engagements in traditional and emerging areas of defence cooperation stems from evolving security challenges.

Along with the traditional aspects of cooperation- capacity building, information sharing, port calls and exchanges to strengthen maritime deterrence- Indonesia is purchasing India’s supersonic BrahMos missile system and indigenously built beyond-visual-range-air-to-air (BVRAAM) Astra Mk I missiles, a $630 million deal. Indonesia, which began talks on the BrahMos in 2021, fast-tracked the process after the missile’s performance during Operation Sindoor, becoming the third export customer after the Philippines and Vietnam.

Interestingly, both BrahMos and Astra missiles can be integrated with Indonesia’s Air fleet comprising Su-27 and Su-30 fighter jets. Indonesia is the first foreign customer of the Astra missiles. This procurement validates India’s evolving defence manufacturing capabilities. This also marks a major milestone in India’s journey as a defence exporter and underscores how defence exports are becoming an instrument of foreign policy.

While defence acquisitions would bolster security and provide deterrence for broader economic and strategic integration, countries agreed to jointly develop Sabang Port, which overlooks the strategic Malacca Straits. An estimated 75-80% of Chinese oil imports pass through the Strait. Developing Sabang will help India counter China’s growing influence and presence in the Indian Ocean Region. Lying at the northern tip of Sumatra Island, Sabang is 90 nautical miles from Indira Point, the southernmost point of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, which is India’s tri-service command centre. India is also working on the mega Great Nicobar transhipment port.

Sabang can complement Great Nicobar Port and augment India’s strategic presence in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region. This can greatly boost its Act East Policy in terms of connectivity, forward- deployment logistics, and maritime tourism by expanding trade and unlocking commercial opportunities with Indonesia and Southeast Asia. By integrating Sabang with the Bay of Bengal ports, countries are realising the 2018 shared vision on Maritime Cooperation for the Indo-Pacific. Overseeing the critical maritime corridors and chokepoints Sunda, Lombok, Makassar and Malacca, Indonesia is the ultimate gatekeeper of the Indo-Pacific. Through the Sabang collaborative project and the missile hardware, India has created a defence canopy and an impenetrable maritime domain over the eastern gateway to the Indian Ocean. Securing access to Sabang will give India’s operational requirements for refuelling and maritime patrolling a huge fillip.

Sabang, a submarine base under the Imperial Japanese Navy, was where Netaji Subas Bose alighted after a daring sub-to-sub (from German to Japanese submarine) transfer off the coast of Madagascar to take charge of the Indian National Army (INA) in 1943.

Beyond security and defence and maritime cooperation, the comprehensive strategic partnership between the countries spans four additional areas - economic and trade cooperation, health, pharma, food and energy security, people-to-people relations and civilisational connect. Synergising the developmental visions of both countries, Viksit Bharat 2047 and Indonesia Emas 2045, and seeking broader economic integration, the countries are now operationalising guidelines for trade in national currencies. Bilateral trade with Indonesia, India’s second-largest trading partner, has expanded from $4.3 billion to $38.34 billion in 2023-24.

With a population of 288 million, Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country. The country holds Presidential, national, and regional elections on a single day. The arduous process of manual vote counting and exhaustion caused by it led to the death of over 500 election officials in 2019. In 2024 polls, despite government measures, close to 100 election volunteers died and over 4000 fell ill. The vital instruments of India’s robust election architecture, the EVMs, have set a new benchmark for being tamper-proof and accurate. Seeking to overhaul its voting system, Indonesia has signed an MoU for customising EVM technology, validating India’s voting system and putting to rest fraudulent allegations. Marking 100 years of Rabindranath Tagore’s visit to Indonesia, countries have designated 2026-27 as the Tagore-Dewantara Year of Cultural and Educational Diplomacy. India has announced plans to establish IIM Bangalore’s first overseas branch at Singhasari SEZ.

Reliable supplies of critical minerals have become a strategic priority for countries given their indispensability for the clean energy missions, defence technology and semiconductors. Monopolisation, weaponisation and export restrictions have raised concerns over the reliability of supply chains. West Asian crisis exacerbated it further. In the past two years, India has signed pacts with 35 countries to secure their access. Indonesia has the world’s largest reserves of nickel, essential for the clean energy transition and a raw material for stainless steel. India has signed an MoU for the development of rare earth magnets. Simultaneously, India’s SAIL is exploring a JV with Indonesian PT Krakatau Steel for setting up a stainless-steel slab manufacturing facility in India.

Countries have also signed MoUs on health collaboration, space exploration, medical products registration, disaster management, telecommunications technologies and sharing expertise for building an Open Network based on Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). India pledged 100 tonnes of high-quality DWR 162 Wheat seeds as part of food security cooperation.

Bilateral ties evolved into a robust Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during PM Modi’s visit in 2018. The trajectory of India-Indonesian ties, etched in brotherhood, as PM Modi recalled in his address to the Joint Session of the Parliament, has important geopolitical lessons.

The shared struggle against imperial rule has been at the heart of the India-Indonesia brotherhood. India strongly supported Indonesian sovereignty. The reference to Odisha’s Biju Patnaik’s daring evacuation of Sukarno is a testament to the strong friendship between the countries. Sukarno was the Chief Guest for India’s first Republic Day celebrations in 1950. Leaders-PM Jawaharlal Nehru and President Sukarno championed Afro-Asian solidarity, anti-colonialism and non-alignment. Indonesia hosted the first Afro-Asian conference, a precursor to NAM, in Bandung in 1955. But the relations soured after Nehru refused to back Indonesia’s bid to hold the second edition of the conference. Driven by grandiose maritime ambitions, Sukarno began to side with Pakistan.

In a sharp departure from a neutral stand on Kashmir, Sukarno sided with Pakistan. Indonesia even offered 5000 volunteers to Pakistan during the 1965 war with India and requested Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) to grant access to its airports. Sukarno reportedly lent a flotilla of six Russian-built frigates and two submarines to Pakistan. While China hasn’t entered the water, the Pakistan-China-Indonesia axis emerged as a major security threat for India during the war. Sukarno planned to seize the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (ANI) and declared his plans for the “Indonesian Ocean”. In the early 1960s, Indonesia considered ANI to be an extension of Sumatra.

Sukarno harboured ambitious maritime plans and made some aggressive attempts to takeover Papau New Guinea, straining ties with Australia as well. Stretched for resources to defend the continental frontiers, India barely had any force to defend the ANI. Six decades hence, India, the resident power of the Indian Ocean, has steadily emerged as a security provider for the region. Working under the frameworks of the East Asia Summit (EAS), the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and guided by the Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision, India and Indonesia have deepened maritime security cooperation. Sabang Port development and plans for integration with the Great Nicobar Project and the Bay of Bengal ports are a huge leap forward in the strategic maritime partnership.

As maritime nations straddling vital trade routes, India and Indonesia are increasingly positioned as natural security providers of the Indian Ocean region. Anchored in centuries-old civilisational ties and shaped by contemporary geopolitical imperatives, the strong personal chemistry between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Prabowo Subianto has transformed diplomatic goodwill into concrete strategic outcomes, strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership and reinforcing a shared vision for a secure, prosperous Indo-Pacific.

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Seychelles, a Vital Node in New Delhi’s Indian Ocean Arc

PM Modi was on a three-day visit to Seychelles (June 27-29), his second since 2015, to attend the 50^th anniversary of their independence. Invited to grace the National Day Celebrations as the guest of honour, the visit also coincides with 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Seychelles. Received ceremoniously by Seychellois President Patrick Herimine and Vice President Sebastian Pillar, the diplomatic warmth resonates with the growing trust in the strategic partnership.

Disparate in sizes and separated by the Indian Ocean, which is also the binding anchor in the relationships, both nations exuded a new enthusiasm, an ocean of opportunities to build an enduring partnership. Though small in land area, just 460 square kilometres, Seychelles commands an Exclusive Economic Zone of 1.3 million square kilometres and sits adjacent to the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs). Notwithstanding the size, India has always treated nations with respect and as equal partners. Reiterating the significance of maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), PM Modi announced that Seychelles is an important partner of India’s SAGAR vision in 2015.

India’s historic ties with the Indian Ocean Islands stretch back several centuries, and the Indian Diaspora played a pivotal role in nurturing the connections. The first recorded arrival of five Indians on board the Thelemaque ship at Saint Anne Island of Seychelles dates to 1770. Since then, successive waves of migrations from Tamil Nadu and Gujarat have created enduring bonds of cultural and economic linkages between the two nations. The bilateral ties are underpinned by close people-to-people connections, with the Indian community accounting for 10 per cent of the Seychelles population serving as a living bridge.

During his visit, PM Modi underlined that Seychelles lies at the convergence of India’s advocacy for the Global South policy and the Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth for All in the Region (MAHASAGAR) Vision, a holistic approach to Ocean governance. It attempts to integrate maritime safety challenges- maritime terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing with climate action, blue economy, sustainability, resilience and connectivity, which are vital aspects for maritime nations.

After Iran’s weaponisation of geography during the recent conflict, the strategic importance of maritime routes has become more pronounced. Comprising 115 islands, Seychelles, an archipelago spanning 4° to 10° South of the equator, is close to choke points - Mozambique Channel, Bab-el-Mandeb and Cape of Good Hope and major energy trade routes. Aligning with the security requirements of the archipelago, India has gifted two Dornier aircraft in the past and during the current visit, PM Modi announced the upgradation of an aircraft with a glass cockpit and the completion of the refit of PS Zoroaster. Additionally, India has gifted a fast patrol vessel, L’Espoir (meaning Hope in Creole), 10 utility vehicles and five laser-assisted radial boats for maritime surveillance.

Developmental Partnership was at the core of India’s partnership with Seychelles and perfectly blends with the Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages (SESEL) adopted by both countries in February 2026. This vision is mirrored in India’s assistance to the nation in development projects, capacity building and training as per its requirements and priorities.  

Notably, one in every 50 Seychellois has been a part of India’s training programmes. These formed the bulk of the MoUs signed between countries, and other outcomes included agreements on UPI digital payment infrastructure, export of generic medicines, agriculture, extradition, recognition of seafarers’ training, line of credit, space cooperation and development of a new Seychelles National Hospital. Leaders have laid the ground for the construction of the Seychelles Professional and Technical Education Centre under the special economic package of $175 million announced during President Herminie’s visit to India in February 2026.

For the first time, India extended credit in rupees amounting to Rs 1250 crores. India also provided the archipelago with 500 metric tons of rice and 8500 tons of cement to stabilise food security and infrastructure challenges which were faced due to the Middle East crisis.

Simultaneously, countries are also advancing cooperation in energy, especially green energy and climate action. Seychelles is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), highly vulnerable to climate change. In his address to the National Assembly, the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister, PM Modi, who calls SIDS, Large Ocean Countries, expressed his steadfast commitment to advance their aspirations at the global level. Positioning the Blue Economy as a strategic pillar of the bilateral relationship, keen on championing climate change, India pledged to share expertise in ocean observation, marine science, and coastal management. Seychelles joined India’s Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), affirming its trust in India’s climate leadership. In recognition of the pioneering efforts of PM Modi in combatting climate change, Seychelles aptly honoured him with the “Guardian of Blue Horizon” honour.

The conferment of the highest distinction by Seychelles is a new milestone in the India-Seychelles relationship that witnessed cyclical fluctuations in diplomatic ties. In 2015, PM Modi, during his Indian Ocean outreach, signed foundation agreements with Mauritius and Seychelles to build strategic installations at Agalega and Assumption Islands, respectively. In 2024, India and Mauritius jointly inaugurated an air and naval staging facility at Agalega Island. However, eleven years later, the Assumption Island agreement, hijacked by narrative, hit a roadblock.

India’s maritime plans in the Indian Ocean suffered a setback after usual suspects began to peddle Agalega and Assumption Island agreements as military bases. In 2021, strongly denying reports of surrendering sovereignty, Mauritius disclosed the dual-use capabilities of the project. Both India and Mauritius even reworked the blueprint of the project to allay local concerns over environmental fears. Agalega now serves the twin purposes of catering to the patrolling needs of the 2.3 million Sq.km of Mauritian EEZ and offering critical logistical and surveillance support to the Indian Navy.

In 2018, India and Seychelles revised the text of the Assumption Island agreement, which President David Faure approved. The revised text wasn’t made public, fanning dangerous speculation and suspicion about a 20-year lease for the construction of an airstrip and jetty. Indian-origin leader of the opposition in the parliament, Wavel John Charles Ramkalawan, stalled its ratification even after India clarified that the operational control would be with Seychelles. After Ramkalawan became President in 2020, India reiterated its commitment to strengthening maritime security and sent 50,000 doses of COVID vaccine. After COVID, the Assumption Island project lost momentum. Though Ramkalawan didn’t cancel the Assumption Island agreement, he didn’t even ratify it. President Herimine won the October 2025 Presidential elections and visited India in February 2026.

Located southwest of Seychelles, Assumption Island lies along the Mozambique Channel through which global trade transits. Recognising the strategic importance of Seychelles, China has forged close ties with the archipelago through infrastructure contracts since 2000. It has built the Supreme Court, the National Assembly, law institutes, academic institutes, roads, buildings and signed a defence pact in 2004. By 2011, Beijing commenced negotiations for a naval base at Assumption Island and faced domestic opposition over environmental concerns. The Island is close to Aldabra Atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the World’s largest population of tortoises. After China established its first overseas military base at Djibouti, it dropped the Assumption Island plan. This injected a sense of urgency into India’s strategic calculus, prompting New Delhi to secure a foothold in the region.

The strategic geographic location of Seychelles and the India-China rivalry have lent the archipelago strong leverage. Successive leaders of Seychelles secured maximum gratification from India and China by indulging in double talks. Factoring in Seychelles’ colonial legacy as a former French-British colony, India has even explored a trilateral cooperation arrangement for Assumption Island with France. Seychelles’ current dispensation has adopted a new vision which heavily leans on defence capacity-building, joint patrolling, and hydrography. A special invitation to PM Modi as Guest of Honour for the 50^th National Day Celebrations underscores a growing trust in India’s friendship.

Along with a change in leadership, India’s remarkable role in the UK-Mauritius treaty and the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius are no mean feat. This diplomatic success, along with India’s strategic patience towards the Maldives in turning an anti-India regime into a friendly one, is definitely not lost on these Indian Ocean Nations. It may not be a coincidence that PM Modi has also been the Guest of Honour for the 50^th anniversary of Mauritius Independence Day Celebrations. On that eve, India signed a landmark agreement to establish a satellite telemetry, tracking and communication (TTC) station in the Chagos Archipelago, in a huge boost to India’s space research and maritime surveillance capabilities.

Upholding the mantra of win-win partnership, India has been forging close ties with the extended neighbourhood in the Indian Ocean. Traditionally, India has been the security provider to the entire region and has played a crucial role in averting coups in the Maldives and Seychelles. In the 1980’s several coup attempts were made against President René of the Seychelles. Indian Navy launched “Operation Flowers Are Blooming” in 1986 and dispatched INS Vindhyagiri to Victoria after receiving a firsthand intelligence report of a coup by the Defence Minister. Indian Vessel remained at the port on the pretext of repair for two months and averted the coup. In another instance, President Rene was away from Seychelles for the Non-Aligned Conference in Harare. PM Rajiv Gandhi, who was at the conference having learnt about a coup attempt, lent his Air Force One to reach Port Victoria. 

Seychelles’ status as a high-income country has led many Western countries to scale back financial and military aid, creating a critical gap in the archipelago’s maritime security capabilities. India has stepped up to fill this critical role. To strengthen its engagement, India has constituted the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), which includes Mauritius and Seychelles. Seychelles has now become a full member of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), which primarily focuses on maritime safety and security.

India now has a permanent eye in the Western Indian Ocean through which Chinese naval vessels must pass when transiting between the Pacific and Indian Ocean theatres. As Beijing continues to expand its commercial and military infrastructure with ‘Pearl of Strings’ encircling India, New Delhi is also broadening its arc of influence.

 Mauritius and Seychelles are emerging as key nodes in India’s evolving Indian Ocean Arc, complementing Lakshadweep, Nicobar Islands, Indonesia’s Sabang and Singapore. Through sustained, patient and consequential diplomacy, India is transforming engagement with littoral states into mutually beneficial strategic infrastructure.

Laying out India’s vision, PM Modi succinctly stated, “The Indian Ocean does not separate India and Seychelles. It connects us. That is why we meet not as strangers. We meet as old friends”. The statement encapsulates India’s vision for the region- one rooted in shared history, mutual respect and a common commitment to ensuring that the Indian Ocean remains safe, secure, open and inclusive.

 

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