Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin holds bilateral talks with other officials.
Credit: X/@rajnathsingh
New Delhi: India and Indonesia on Thursday moved ahead in the long-awaited Brahmos deal with Jakarta supporting New Delhi to set up a joint committee to strengthen collaboration in “technology transfer” even as the two Asian powerhouses reiterated their commitment to keep the Indo-Pacific region “free, open and peaceful”.
This was the outcome of a bilateral meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, nearly ten months after the visit of President Prabowo Subianto who was the Chief Guest at this year’s Republic Day parade.
The Brahmos deal was discussed at the bilateral meeting, though sources said it might take more time before the formal contract was inked.
Earlier in the day, the Indonesian delegation led by the minister visited the Brahmos facility here and received a briefing from the officials.
New Delhi and Jakarta have been discussing the Brahmos contract for some time and a deal was expected in January during President Subianto’s visit. But it didn’t materialise.
“Indonesia appreciated India’s proposal to establish a Joint Defence Industry Cooperation Committee to further strengthen collaboration in areas such as technology transfer, joint R&D, certification harmonisation, and supply-chain linkages,” the Defence Ministry said.
Philippines is the only country to which India sold Brahmos cruise missiles with Manila in 2022 acquiring three batteries of the supersonic cruise missiles with a range of 290 km.
India and Indonesia reiterated the importance of maintaining a free, open, peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, guided by international law and respect for sovereignty. They also committed to enhancing practical cooperation in maritime domain awareness, cyber resilience, and joint operational readiness.
India's experience in submarine development and supply-chain management, including Scorpene-class submarine programme, was acknowledged as highly valuable for Indonesia's future plans, the defence ministry said.
Noting that the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative share relevant fundamental principles, Indonesia reiterated that India remains a key partner in promoting peace and cooperation in the region.
The heightened collaboration with Indonesia comes at a time when Jakarta is massively equipping its armed forces, raising nearly 500 battalions to man all its districts.
“Countries in the ASEAN who thought they would not have any adversary in the neighbourhood are rearming … Indonesia is going for a huge rearming of the country, raising almost 500 battalions across the country. They will rival the size of our army shortly,” Defence Secretary R K Singh said at the Chanakya Defence Dialogue, a two-day conclave organised by the Indian Army. “This is happening because of the return of the oldest law – might is right,” he added.