BrahMos Export to Indonesia Marks New Chapter in India’s Act East Defence Diplomacy

India and Indonesia on Tuesday strengthened their strategic partnership with defence cooperation emerging as a key focus , as both sides moved forward on the supply of India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Indonesian military.

The development came during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, where the two countries signed nearly a dozen agreements covering defence, maritime security, technology, critical minerals, food security and healthcare .

The potential BrahMos export deal marks a major step in India’s growing defence diplomacy and supports its Act East Policy , aimed at expanding strategic engagement with Southeast Asian nations. Indonesia’s interest in the missile system reflects growing efforts to enhance maritime capabilities amid rising geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific .

Both countries also agreed to strengthen defence exchanges, disaster management and defence industry cooperation , while Indonesia is set to acquire India’s Astra air-to-air missile system .

Maritime cooperation remained central to the talks, with India and Indonesia agreeing to jointly develop Sabang Port , located near the strategically vital Strait of Malacca . The two sides also decided to boost cooperation in the blue economy and maritime trade .

To secure critical supply chains, India announced investments in Indonesia’s steel, nickel and rare earth permanent magnet sectors . The countries also advanced digital cooperation through the integration of India’s UPI payment system with Indonesia’s payment network.

Modi said the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was entering a new phase, with deeper cooperation in security, technology, education and development. The visit highlights India’s push to build stronger regional partnerships and promote stability in the Indo-Pacific.