Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives grand welcome ceremony in Jakarta

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a grand welcome ceremony on his arrival in Jakarta, Indonesia on Tuesday (July 7, 2026), marking the start of his official state visit aimed at deepening bilateral ties and strengthening strategic cooperation between the two countries.

The prime minister had arrived in Indonesia on Monday (July 6), kicking off the opening part of his three-country diplomatic visit with a high-profile welcome ceremony including an escort by an Indonesian Air Force fighter jet and a personal reception by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the airport.

Military fighter jets escorted the prime minister’s plane as it entered Indonesian airspace before he was formally received by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and greeted with a traditional cultural dance performance. This official visit to Indonesia, which takes place from July 6 to 8 at the personal invitation of President Prabowo, marks his fourth trip to the Southeast Asian country.

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This is essentially the inaugural bilateral visit between the two countries since they officially elevated their diplomatic relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2018. The high-level engagement is expected to provide further impetus to this comprehensive strategic partnership, with bilateral defense and maritime coordination placed at the top of the joint agenda. Security relations between New Delhi and Jakarta have grown significantly in recent years, driven by frequent high-level official exchanges, regular joint military maneuvers, collaborative defense industry initiatives and Indonesia’s historic acquisition of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.

Underscoring this emphasis on regional stability, the MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions) framework constitutes India’s institutional vision to promote security, stability and inclusive developmental growth in the maritime domain.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi said the diplomatic visit would directly build on the strong momentum that currently characterizes India’s relations with Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, with a particular focus on expanding cooperation in strategic, economic and people-centric areas.

“My visit to Indonesia and Australia in the eastern and southern Indian Ocean, respectively, followed by New Zealand, will further strengthen India’s Go East policy, the MAHASAGAR vision, as well as our vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the Prime Minister said in his departure statement.

After his engagements in Indonesia, Prime Minister Modi will visit Australia and New Zealand as part of his multinational visit. Ahead of his arrival, members of the Indian diaspora community residing in Indonesia expressed great optimism that the high-level visit would pave the way for enhanced collaborative projects in the mining, infrastructure, energy and emerging technology sectors.

During his current stay, the Prime Minister is also expected to hold talks with these members of the local Indian diaspora. He will also accompany President Prabowo to the UNESCO-listed Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta, a historic site he has previously called a visible symbol of the deep civilizational ties between the two nations.

These enduring civilizational ties reflect a burgeoning modern economic relationship, in which Indonesia is India’s second-largest trading partner within the ASEAN bloc.

The total bilateral trade volume reached $24.78 billion in fiscal year 2025-2026, and more than 130 Indian trading companies maintain active investments in various sectors of Indonesia’s national economy. Building on these established trade channels, strategic acquisition of critical minerals is also expected to feature prominently in bilateral state-to-state discussions. Indonesia currently holds around 21% of the world’s nickel reserves and ranks among the world’s leading producers of bauxite, copper and tin, making the archipelago a critical partner for India’s long-term supply chain security and its renewable energy transition goals.

Ultimately, the Prime Minister’s state visit aims to deepen institutional cooperation while systematically strengthening trade and investment channels within the critical minerals sector, alongside a comprehensive review of the entire bilateral relationship.