India, Indonesia vow to expand collaboration in defence, maritime security
The partnership between two maritime neighbours India and Indonesia, deeply rooted in bilateral and multilateral cooperation, underscores Jakarta’s pivotal role in the Indo-Pacific landscape and New Delhi’s Act East Policy, which is the upgrade of the “Look East Policy.”
Act East Policy, announced in November 2014, is India’s diplomatic initiative to promote economic, strategic and cultural relations with the vast Asia-Pacific region at different levels.
India and Indonesia, the largest country in Southeast Asia, expressed satisfaction at the expanding scope of defence cooperation between the two nations at the 7th India-Indonesia Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting held in New Delhi on Friday (May 3).
The JDCC meeting was co-chaired by Indian Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Secretary General of the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, Air Marshal Donny Ermawan Taufanto.
The progress made on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives deliberated in meetings of Working Groups on Defence Cooperation and Defence Industries Cooperation was reviewed by the co-chairs during the meeting.
Means to enhance existing areas of collaboration especially in the field of defence industry ties, maritime security and multilateral cooperation were also identified in the JDCC meeting.
According to an article published by the East-West Center, India views Indonesia as a strategic partner that can play an important role in its Act East Policy.
These two nations are close geographic neighbours who share a maritime boundary and a mutual stake in each other’s progress, prosperity, stability, and territorial integrity, and the two countries face similar challenges as pluralistic democracies and developing societies, as per the article.
The cooperation in the area of defence and security between India and Indonesia commenced soon after independence of both nations.
In the initial stages, the defence cooperation was robust under which several Indonesian Air Force personnel received training in India.
India and Indonesia have a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and have arrived at a shared vision of the Indo-Pacific.
According to the Consulate General of India in Indonesia, New Delhi and Jakarta have robust cooperation in the area of defence and security.
Vietnam Times
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