New Delhi, November 27. India and Indonesia reaffirmed their strategic commitment to shaping a stable Indo-Pacific as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin co-chaired the third India–Indonesia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in New Delhi on November 27. The meeting signalled a deepening of bilateral defence cooperation across military engagement, defence industry collaboration, maritime security and emerging technologies.
The two ministers recalled Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s presence as chief guest at India’s 2025 Republic Day celebrations, noting that his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year had given renewed momentum to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Officials highlighted the symbolism and scale of Indonesia’s participation in the parade, with 352 personnel from its armed forces taking part.
A major focus of the dialogue was the strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific. Both sides stressed the importance of maintaining a free, open and peaceful region based on international law and respect for sovereignty. Reaffirming the alignment between the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, Indonesia described India as a key partner in promoting regional peace and cooperation. The ministers agreed to step up practical collaboration in maritime domain awareness, cyber resilience and joint operational readiness, and to make fuller use of multilateral platforms such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association, chaired by India.
Defence industrial cooperation featured prominently in the talks. Indonesia welcomed India’s proposal to set up a Joint Defence Industry Cooperation Committee to expand collaboration in technology transfer, joint research and development, certification processes and supply-chain integration. Both sides noted the steady progress made under existing frameworks, including the Defence Cooperation Agreement and the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee.
The two countries also reviewed their expanding schedule of military-to-military activities. They noted growing participation in joint exercises spanning the army, navy and air force, including Super Garuda Shield, Garuda Shakti, Samudra Shakti and MILAN, as well as planned air manoeuvre exercises. Enhanced exchanges between officers, joint training programmes and academic visits to defence institutions were identified as key avenues for strengthening interoperability and professional understanding.
Maritime security remained a central pillar of the discussions. The ministers reiterated their commitment to coordinating closely in the Indian Ocean and deepening engagement through ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus.
Indonesia also expressed strong interest in India’s submarine ecosystem, including its experience with Scorpene-class submarine development and related supply-chain structures. The two sides discussed possible cooperation on undersea capabilities, alongside collaboration in defence medicine and military pharmaceuticals through joint research, technology sharing and specialised training.
In a rare diplomatic gesture, India announced it would gift horses and a ceremonial carriage from the Indian Army’s Remount Veterinary Corps to Indonesia.
The ministers also touched upon global security issues, jointly reiterating support for a just and lasting peace in Palestine. They explored opportunities for cooperation in humanitarian assistance and post-conflict reconstruction, with Indonesia reaffirming its readiness to deploy peacekeepers to Gaza under a UN mandate.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the Dialogue and underscored the need for continued high-level engagement and structured coordination across multiple defence domains. The discussions, they said, underscored the growing strategic convergence between India and Indonesia and the importance of their partnership in fostering peace, security and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific.
