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OPINION FEBRUARY 06, 2026 | The Indian Eye 10

India-Indonesia Gotong

Royong, Persevering

Geopolitical Storms Together

With India and Indonesia marching ahead firmly on their economic transformation journey led by our common visions
of Developed India 2047 & Indonesia Emas 2045, we as Comprehensive Strategic Partners are not only deepening

existing bilateral ties, but also exploring new frontiers of cooperation in space, defence and critical minerals

peting ideologies. It is without doubt
that if India and Indonesia do more
with each other, our dependencies
on others would reduce preserving
our sovereignties and strategic au-
tonomies.
Despite the challenges both
countries face due to adverse global
economic conditions including wea-
ponisation of tariffs and investment
wariness, both countries have under-
stood the importance of domestic
SANDEEP CHAKRAVORTY reforms and perseverance. Going
ahead both countries have taken ini-
xactly one year back Presi- tiatives to increase the share of man-
dent Prabowo was the Chief ufacturing in their respective GDPs.
EGuest at India’s Republic Day In the context of Indonesia, the most
Parade at the invitation of Prime remarkable and courageous reform
Minister Modi. Marching down the measure, which will have far-reach-
majestic Kartavya Path, Delhi’s most ing outcomes, is the establishment of
magnificent promenade was a 352 Danantara. Another bold initiative
strong Indonesian marching & band has been the Free Nutritious Meals
contingent. It was the first time that Scheme, the impact of which is both
an Indonesian contingent had par- transformational and generational;
ticipated in a national day parade and already visible. The Merah-Pu-
abroad. That it was to commemorate tih Cooperatives when fully opera-
the culmination of the celebrations tional will be the hubs for growth in
of 75 years of establishment of diplo- the rural economy. Since President
matic relations and President Sukar- Prabowo assumed office, in a short
no being the Chief Guest at India’s time of about a year, Indonesia has
first Republic Day, seventy-five years made strides in food self-sufficiency
ago, made the occasion symbolic and and perennial rice imports have now
poignant. In January 2025, Indonesia become a thing of the past. Indone-
also joined BRICS, adding yet anoth- Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrive to attend sia has also finalised several FTAs
er layer to our ties. India holds the the ‘At Home’ reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan on the occasion of the 76th Republic Day, in and has seen merit in dismantling
BRICS Chair in 2026 and is looking artificial barriers to trade. India is
forward to warmly receive President New Delhi (ANI Photo/Jitender Gupta) delighted to partner with Indonesia
Prabowo for the BRICS Summit lat- in several of the Asta Cita initiatives
er this year on the theme of Building ed. Decisions and actions taken by As non-block, non-allied countries, of the government including in food
for Resilience, Innovation, Coopera- India and Indonesia, the largest with firm belief in multi-polarity, In- security and digitalisation.
tion and Sustainability. and the fourth largest countries of dia-Indonesia partnership is not only On the other side of the shared
As a year has passed since the the world, hold importance and im- designed for greater bilateral benefit Indian Ocean that has acted as a
momentous visit, it is time to take pact for the world, particularly for and dovetails well with either coun- bridge between our two civilisations
stock of our ties and spell out the the Global South, in times of acute try’s foreign policy approaches, but is for ages, the Indian growth story is
outcomes and roadmap that the geopolitical contestations and up- also balancing force for global good, not only intact but gaining steam. It
leaders of the two nations had chart- ending of the international order. in a world being pulled apart by com- Continued on next page... >>

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