PM Modi Receives Grand Welcome in Jakarta as Indonesia Visit Begins with Special Honours

Jakarta, July 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jakarta on Monday afternoon on the first leg of his three-nation tour, receiving an exceptional welcome from Indonesia as President Prabowo Subianto personally greeted him at the airport in a rare diplomatic gesture that underscored the growing strategic partnership between the two nations.

Adding to the ceremonial reception, fighter aircraft of the Indonesian Air Force escorted the Prime Minister’s aircraft after it entered Indonesian airspace, reflecting the warmth and importance attached to the visit. Upon his arrival, PM Modi was also treated to vibrant traditional Indonesian cultural performances showcasing the country’s rich heritage.

The Prime Minister’s visit to Indonesia, scheduled from July 6 to July 8, marks his first bilateral trip to the Southeast Asian nation since India and Indonesia elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during his 2018 visit.

During the two-day visit, PM Modi and President Prabowo Subianto are expected to hold wide-ranging bilateral discussions aimed at reviewing the progress of the strategic partnership and exploring new avenues of cooperation in trade, defence, connectivity, maritime security and cultural exchanges.

Indonesia is the first destination of the Prime Minister’s three-nation diplomatic tour, which will also take him to Australia and New Zealand later this week.

Before departing from New Delhi, PM Modi had highlighted the significance of the visit, recalling that President Prabowo had visited India earlier this year as the Chief Guest for the 2025 Republic Day celebrations.

He said India and Indonesia share deep-rooted civilisational links and strong people-to-people connections, adding that the visit would help further strengthen the multifaceted relationship between the two countries.

Apart from official engagements, PM Modi is also scheduled to interact with members of the Indian diaspora in Indonesia. Another major highlight of the visit will be his trip to the historic Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta along with President Prabowo, symbolising the centuries-old cultural ties between India and Indonesia.

Over the past few years, bilateral defence and security cooperation has witnessed significant expansion through regular high-level exchanges, joint military exercises and growing collaboration in the defence industry, including discussions related to the supply of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system.

As maritime neighbours in the Indo-Pacific region, India and Indonesia have also strengthened cooperation under the Shared Vision of India-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation, adopted in 2018. Recent initiatives, including the deployment of an Indonesian Liaison Officer at India’s Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) and India’s decision to offer training opportunities for Indonesian cadets and officers at premier military institutions such as the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), are expected to further deepen defence collaboration.

Economic ties have also continued to grow steadily. Indonesia has emerged as India’s second-largest trading partner within the ASEAN region, with bilateral trade touching USD 24.78 billion in 2025-26. More than 130 Indian companies have established investments across diverse sectors in Indonesia, reflecting the expanding economic partnership and shared developmental ambitions under India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and Indonesia’s Golden Indonesia 2045 roadmap.