{"id":325907,"date":"2025-02-06T16:27:47","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T10:57:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=325907"},"modified":"2025-02-06T18:11:38","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T12:41:38","slug":"india-indonesia-relations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/india-indonesia-relations\/","title":{"rendered":"India-Indonesia Relations- Explained Pointwise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto\u2019s visit to India as the chief guest for the 76th Republic Day<\/span> was a significant milestone in India-Indonesia relations<\/strong>. The two nations share deep historical, cultural, and trade ties. Notably, Indonesia\u2019s first President, Sukarno, was the chief guest at India\u2019s first Republic Day in 1950, underscoring their long-standing friendship.<\/p>\n

The Indonesian President\u2019s recent visit also led to the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in health, digital infrastructure, and<\/span> defence cooperation<\/span>, further strengthening ties between the two Indo-Pacific democracies.<\/p>\n

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Source- ORF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
Table of Content<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
How have India-Indonesia Relations evolved over time?<\/a>
\nWhat are the key pillars of cooperation between India-Indonesia?<\/a>
\nWhat are the challenges in India- Indonesia relations?<\/a>
\nWhat should be the way forward?<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a>How have India-Indonesia Relations evolved over time?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Early Post-Independence Period (1940s-1950s)<\/strong><\/td>\nIndia played a crucial role in supporting Indonesia\u2019s struggle for independence from Dutch colonial rule<\/span>. Under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, India emerged as a strong advocate for Indonesia\u2019s freedom on the global stage. Key developments during this period included:
\na. Treaty of Friendship (1951)<\/strong>: Strengthening cooperation in trade, culture, and military affairs.
\nb. Non-Alignment and Anti-Colonialism<\/strong>: Both nations were aligned on principles of non-alignment, peaceful coexistence, and anti-colonialism, leading to their active participation in the 1955 Bandung Conference<\/span> and the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1961<\/span>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Deterioration in Ties (1960s)<\/strong><\/td>\nDespite early cooperation, India-Indonesia relations faced setbacks in the 1960s due to geopolitical shifts:
\na. Sino-Indian Conflict (1962):<\/strong> India\u2019s ties with China worsened post the 1959 Tibetan uprising and the 1962 war<\/span>, while Indonesia maintained cordial relations with China.<\/span>
\nb. India-Pakistan Conflict (1965):<\/strong> Indonesia openly sided with Pakistan during the 1965 India-Pakistan war<\/span>, even providing military assistance to Pakistan, causing a strain in Indo-Indonesian ties.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cold War Era (1966-1980s)<\/strong><\/td>\nA shift in Indonesia\u2019s political landscape led to the gradual revival of ties:
\na. President Suharto\u2019s Era<\/strong>: Indonesia distanced itself from China and sought to rebuild relations with India.
\nb. Maritime Boundary Agreement (1977):<\/strong> Strengthened cooperation in maritime affairs and regional security.
\nc. Suharto\u2019s Visit to India (1980):<\/strong> Marked a new phase of improved diplomatic relations between the two nations.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Look East Policy (1990s)<\/strong><\/td>\nIndia\u2019s economic liberalization in the 1990s and the launch of the \u2018Look East\u2019 policy in 1991 significantly boosted Indo-Indonesian ties:
\na. Expansion of Economic Ties<\/strong>: Trade and investment between the two countries witnessed substantial growth.
\nb. Comprehensive Partnership:<\/strong> Economic, security, and cultural cooperation became key aspects of bilateral relations.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Act East Policy and Recent Developments (Since 2000s)<\/strong><\/td>\nWith the launch of India\u2019s \u2018Act East\u2019 policy in 2014<\/span>, Indonesia emerged as a key regional partner. Notable advancements include:
\na. Trade Relations<\/strong>: Indonesia is India\u2019s 2nd largest trading partner in ASEAN<\/span> (after Singapore), with trade growing from USD 4.3 billion in 2005-06 to US$ 29.40 billion in 2023-24.
\nb. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2018)<\/strong>– PM Modi’s visit to Jakarta led to the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and a shared vision on Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation.
\nc. Maritime Cooperation<\/strong>: Both nations jointly advocate for the resolution of maritime disputes and the finalization of the South China Sea Code of Conduct<\/span> as per UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea).
\nd. Defense Cooperation<\/strong>: Indonesia is negotiating with India for the BrahMos missile system<\/span>, with an estimated deal worth USD 450 million.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a>What are the key pillars of cooperation between India-Indonesia?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

1. Economic & Trade Relations<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n