India, Indonesia advance BrahMos missile cooperation, revive Sabang port plans

New Delhi: India and Indonesia on Tuesday strengthened their strategic partnership with progress on BrahMos missile cooperation, critical minerals, maritime connectivity and education after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta. The leaders discussed expanding defence ties, including cooperation on the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Astra air-to-air missile. Indonesia's interest in Indian-made defence platforms marks another boost to New Delhi's push to expand defence exports and strengthen its position as a reliable security partner in Southeast Asia. The discussions come as India seeks to increase overseas sales of indigenous defence equipment as part of its drive to emerge as a global defence manufacturing hub. A potential BrahMos partnership is also expected to deepen strategic cooperation between the two countries in the Indo-Pacific. Another key outcome was an agreement to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals and rare-earth magnets, sectors that have assumed growing importance as countries diversify supply chains. India is seeking to reduce dependence on concentrated global sources of minerals and components essential for electric vehicles, electronics, renewable energy and defence manufacturing. Indonesia, with its vast reserves of nickel and other strategic minerals, is expected to become an important partner in that effort. The talks also revived focus on the development of Sabang port, located near the entrance to the Malacca Strait, one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes. For India, Sabang holds strategic importance because of its proximity to a key sea lane that carries a significant share of global trade and energy shipments. Greater cooperation at the port is expected to strengthen India's maritime presence in the eastern Indian Ocean while improving connectivity with Southeast Asia. Beyond defence and infrastructure, the two sides agreed to expand cooperation in technology, digital innovation and higher education. An Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore) campus is planned in Indonesia as part of efforts to strengthen educational and people-to-people ties. The Jakarta talks underscore the growing strategic convergence between India and Indonesia as both countries deepen cooperation in defence, maritime security, supply chains and economic engagement.