India-Indonesia Diplomatic Relations @75 Years: Strategic Cooperation Shaping Geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific

As India and Indonesia commemorate 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1951-2024), it is time to celebrate the deep-rooted historical, civilizational, cultural, and economic linkages spanning for the last two millennia, which in turn lays strong foundation for the present transitioning to future. The bilateral relations between the two countries flourish based on age-old cordiality, friendship, mutual trust, and mutual respect. New Delhi and Jakarta are natural partners having strong foundations of democratic principles, institutional affinity, cultural and religious linkages in conjunction with strong people-to-people bonding. The expression of mutual support during the long-drawn era of colonial struggle is of special significance in bringing the two countries closer and connecting peoples’ emotions. The ancient cultural connections led Hinduism and Buddhism travelling from India to Indonesia. Concurrently, the stories from the great epics of the Ramayana and Mahabharata contribute to the enrichment of Indonesian folk art and dramas. Over the last 75 years all aspects of historical and cultural linkages, colonial past, and post-independence goals of political sovereignty, economic self-reliance, exclusive and independent foreign policy have unifying implications in revamping bilateral relations, which in turn is vital in shaping the geostrategic contours of the Indo-Pacific. ^[1]

The journey of strategic cooperation began in the 1950s when India and Indonesia became founder members of the Non-Aligned Movement. This was succeeded by relative calmness in the 1960s and 1970s, followed by some uptick in the bilateral ties during the 1980s and 1990s. However, over the last decade New Delhi’s renewed efforts on consolidating strategic security and economic relations with Southeast Asia have been catalytic force in expanding the dimensions of partnership, especially with the announcement of the Act East Policy in 2014 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This move acted as game-changer in propelling the dynamics of India-Indonesia relations in the context of contemporary Indo-Pacific geopolitical-economic setting. New developments in strategic relations was further manifested in the form of signing the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in May 2018. This considerably broadened the scope and extensiveness of the engagement between the two countries in terms of heightened partnership for addressing some of the most complex challenges in the emerging world order having strategic ramifications in ensuring peace, stability, and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. ^[2] Having said that this is also the time for New Delhi and Jakarta to deliberate and explore some key areas of mutual concern, which are so far not optimized yet have high potential to elevate the intensity and efficacy of CSP.

One such area that is of paramount importance for the region and beyond and where the two countries can work together more comprehensively is that of India-led Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, ^[3] which is widely acclaimed as New Delhi’s strategic initiative for reformed multilateralism and transparent governance among like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific keeping in perspective ASEAN centrality. Most recently in October 2024 Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated at the 21st India-ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Lao PDR that New Delhi’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), launched in 2019, is of strategic importance for the region and it gives priority to ASEAN centrality as it complements the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. ^[4] Such deliberations by PM Modi reflect India’s growing interest in partnering with like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific to enhance peace, stability, maritime security and economic progress in an inclusive manner in the region, much in synergy with the objectives of India’s policy of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). And here Indonesia can pitch in more proactively and play bigger strategic role in tandem with India in promoting geostrategic equilibrium and stability in the much contentious Indo-Pacific maritime corridor alongside addressing effectively emerging complex challenges of mutual concerns. This has the propensity to revitalise much needed Track 2 diplomacy facilitating heightened people-to-people engagement that in turn is bound to reinforce Track 1 diplomatic efforts allowing for robust cooperation in infrastructure, connectivity, trade, and capacity enhancement apart from strengthening defence and maritime security architecture in the region.

It is heartening to see that some ASEAN partners especially Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam trend to pivot towards India in resolving territorial and maritime disputes in the Indo-Pacific. Moreover, with Singapore, Thailand, and Myanmar having repeatedly shown inclination towards India as a huge market base with strong democratic fabric in terms of enhancing economic and trade engagement alongside socio-cultural connectivity, the institutional construct of IPOI gets further consolidated. In this context the deep-rooted civilizational, historical and cultural connect between India and Indonesia bestows greater responsibility for the two countries to embolden pluralistic cooperation and strengthen the roadmap envisaged by IPOI towards achieving the much needed power balance, geostrategic equilibrium, and shared progress in the Indo-Pacific. It is imperative that the two countries tap vast opportunities to work in tandem and harness the blue economy and preserving common marine heritage in the Indo-Pacific maritime stretch by contemplating transparent and resilient governance mechanisms in the greater Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The willingness of ASEAN member states such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, to involve themselves in protecting and preserving freedoms in the maritime common in the north-western Arabian Sea within the Indian Ocean offers a number of exciting opportunities for future maritime collaboration that both New Delhi and Jakarta would do very well to explore in the Indo-Pacific waters. ^[5] Such approach is in conformity to the tenets of IPOI towards fostering inclusiveness and shared economic progress in the region especially in the ambit of capacity enhancing, connectivity infrastructure building, and resource sharing.

In essence the CSP defines viable roadmap that governs agenda promoting robust cooperation on a plethora of issues encompassing defence and security, economy and trade, energy transition, climate change, blue economy, healthcare cooperation, food security and nutrition, connectivity and infrastructure, technology integration, and people-to-people engagement. On all these fronts there is scope for larger collaboration and bring in tangible consequences in the Indo-Pacific. Here it is imperative for the two countries to constitute high level task forces, preferably at ministerial levels, to jointly oversee the progress of strategic cooperation on each issue area and prepare metrics to measure developments. Regular meetings to review emerging challenges in the region and initiate effective measures towards programme implementation having well-framed enforcement and compliance mechanisms will be crucial. Such move will create a sense of urgency and consistency in making the partnership tangible, responsive and impactful for the region and beyond.

Geographically India and Indonesia are strategically located at critical crossroads in the Indo-Pacific connecting greater Indian Ocean waters with the Pacific. It is pertinent to note that the southernmost point of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located at the critical intersection between South Asia and Southeast Asia, lies just 90 nautical miles from Indonesian archipelago. This crucial water stretch also constitutes vital Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) and maritime choke points that serve as economic and trade lifeline of not only the region but also global connectivity. ^[6] Being major naval powers India and Indonesia can work together as de facto gatekeepers and first responders of this maritime corridor, which eventually signify one of the busiest trade transit points. On similar lines the India-Indonesia-Australia trilateral framework for naval exercises further add momentum to partner and enhance regional maritime security while contemplating on emerging maritime opportunities and challenges. This allows for devising effective information exchange mechanisms and capabilities in IOR, Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), non-traditional and illicit maritime activities, sea law enforcement, capacity building, exploring avenues for enhancing interoperability and cooperation. ^[7] Coordinated maritime collaboration has immense potential to formulate effective governance mechanisms, checks and balances towards revamping connectivity infrastructure while creating dynamic, resilient, reliable and robust supply chain in the region. Such policy orientation is destined to foster enabling ecosystem facilitating regional security, economic and trade linkages between India and Indonesia as well as larger India-ASEAN domain along with like-minded partners, all of which have synergy with SAGAR.

On energy front, the two countries have immense potential to collaborate because of not only locational proximity but also their geographical advantage being situated in sun-belt of the planet. In this context Indonesia’s joining the India-based International Solar Alliance (ISA) opens up new vistas for strategic collaboration towards harnessing clean and renewable energy sources. Additionally, the India-Indonesia Energy Forum promotes dialogue for bilateral cooperation on energy transition, consistent with upholding UN Sustainable Development Goals and climate action. Presence of prominent Indian energy companies for setting up solar power plants and wind farms in Indonesia^[8] is testament of high intensity collaboration in energy sector. Simultaneously coupling infrastructure, logistics, and connectivity cooperation at bilateral and regional levels facilitates strong people-to-people engagement and cultural relations while accelerating convergence based on democratic value system and pluralistic nomenclature. All these endeavours impact geopolitics and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific.

Endnotes

^[1] “India-Indonesia Relations”, Consulate General of India, Medan, Indonesia. Available at https://www.cgimedan.gov.in/page/india-indonesia-relations/ [3]
^[2] “India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: Convergence and Challenges”, Indian Council of World Affairs. Available at https://www.icwa.in/WriteReadData/RTF1984/7444270077.pdf [4]
^[3] “PM Modi proposes Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative”, The Economic Times, November 05, 2019. Available at https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-modi-proposes-indo-pacific-oceans-initiative/articleshow/71915838.cms [5]
^[4] “Opening Remarks by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at 21st ASEAN-India Summit in Vientiane, Lao PDR”, Press Information Bureau, October 10, 2024. Available at
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2063935 [6]
^[5] ASEAN India Centre at RIS, Working Paper No. 3, October 2020. Available at
https://aseanindiacentre.org.in/sites/default/files/Publication/AIC%20Working%20Paper%20October%202020_0.pdf [7]
^[6] “Bolstering Indonesia-India strategic partnership will be mutually beneficial”, The Jakarta Post, March 2, 2023. Available at https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2023/03/02/bolstering-indonesia-india-strategic-partnership-will-be-mutually-beneficial.html [8]
^[7] “India Australia Indonesia conclude trilateral maritime security workshop”, Business Standard, May 17, 2024. Available at https://www.business-standard.com/external-affairs-defence-security/news/india-australia-indonesia-conclude-trilateral-maritime-security-workshop-124051701433_1.html [9]
^[8] “India-Indonesia Relations – A Civilizational Partnership”, Ed. Vinod Anand, Vivekananda International Foundation. Pentagon Press 2024.

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