Indonesia, India ink long-range missile deal

AFP | Jakarta

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

India will supply Indonesia with long-range missiles, an Indian official said yesterday as their leaders agreed to deepen ties in defence, critical minerals and other areas.

President Prabowo Subianto is hosting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jakarta during a three-day state visit, with a deal on the BrahMos missile system topping the agenda.

An agreement for "cooperation on BrahMos System" was struck during the visit, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

The two countries also reached an agreement on air-to-air missile cooperation that "enhances technology collaboration and defence capabilities", he said.

Details on the deal were not disclosed, and an Indonesian defence ministry spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

"Today, we reached an agreement to enhance defence exchanges, disaster management, and industrial cooperation," Modi told reporters.

The coast guards of the two countries will also work together on maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean, Modi said.

Asia's two biggest democracies also agreed to work together on critical minerals -- which Indonesia produces in abundance -- and steel.

Prabowo said Indonesia and India viewed economic cooperation as "one of the main pillars" of bilateral relations.

They also welcomed efforts to restore the Prambanan temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yogyakarta.

Modi is set to visit Australia and New Zealand after concluding his Indonesia visit, according to Indian foreign ministry.