The visit underscores the strong maritime relations between the two countries conforming to the shared vision of India-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation in the Indo Pacific…reports Asian Lite News
India’s Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi is on a four day official visit to Indonesia from December 15-18, 2024 for discussions to enhance the level of operational collaboration between the naval forces of the two countries. The four-day visit is part of ongoing efforts to further consolidate bilateral defence relations between India and Indonesia, in line with the deepening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
During the visit, Admiral Tripathi is scheduled to engage in bilateral discussions with top level Indonesian Government and defence officials including Lt Gen Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (retd), Defence Minister of Indonesia, General Agus Subiyanto, Commander of Indonesian Armed Forces and Admiral Muhammad Ali, Chief of Staff of Indonesian Navy.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the discussions are expected to cover a broad spectrum of defence cooperation areas, particularly maritime security, joint training initiatives, and exploring avenues for further strengthening the operational collaboration between the two navies.
The visit underscores the strong maritime relations between the two countries conforming to the shared vision of India-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation in the Indo Pacific, the MoD noted in a statement issued on Saturday (December 14, 2024).
The existing maritime cooperation between the Indian and Indonesian Navies encompasses a range of activities, including joint exercises, port visits, and training initiatives aimed at building capacity. Joint military exercises between the two sides include Samudra Shakti (Navy) and Garuda Shakti (Army Special Forces). Currently, the 43rd India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol is underway from December 10-18, 2024, along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
Maritime Security Cooperation a Key Pillar of Bilateral Partnership
India and Indonesia have strengthened their ties across a wide range of sectors since the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018. Recent years have seen robust collaboration in defence, trade, investment, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. Maritime security cooperation, in particular, has emerged as a central pillar of this partnership, with both nations working together to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
India and Indonesia agreed to a Shared Vision for Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Southeast Asian nation in May 2018. The objective was to harness the opportunities and to meet the challenges together as Comprehensive Strategic Partners.
As part of this vision, the two sides agreed to the following:
Promoting Maritime Safety and Security.
Enhancing Trade and Investment Cooperation.
Promoting sustainable development of marine resources.
Expanding cooperation in disaster risk management.
Fostering tourism and cultural exchanges.
Strengthening academic, science and technology cooperation.
Significantly, 2024 marks the tenth anniversary of India’s ‘Act East’ policy, which has sought to enhance India’s engagement with ASEAN countries, including Indonesia. Under this policy, India has actively pursued strategic and economic cooperation with its eastern neighbors, with Indonesia playing an important role in India’s Indo-Pacific strategy. (India News Network)
ALSO READ: Warm Reception for Lankan Prez in Delhi
