Indonesia’s President Subianto lands in India for Republic Day festivities

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived in New Delhi on Thursday night for his first visit to India as the head of state. He is in India to attend the 76th Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest. Subianto’s visit highlights the growing partnership between India and Indonesia, both politically and economically.

Upon his arrival, Subianto was welcomed by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita. The External Affairs Ministry also shared a warm message on social media, highlighting that the visit would strengthen the “India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.” This partnership aims to enhance cooperation across multiple sectors.

The Indonesian president will be the fourth head of state from Indonesia to participate in India’s Republic Day celebrations. Notably, Sukarno, the first president of Indonesia, was the chief guest during India’s inaugural Republic Day in 1950. Subianto’s presence underscores the long-standing friendship between the two nations.

In a historic moment, Indonesia will send a 352-member marching and band contingent to participate in the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path. This marks the first time that Indonesia has sent such a large contingent to a foreign national day parade. The participation symbolizes the deepening cultural and defense ties between the two countries.

Over the past few years, India-Indonesia relations have grown significantly. In 2018, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Indonesia, and the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This partnership includes collaboration in defense, trade, maritime cooperation, and regional security, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.

In November 2023, during the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Prime Minister Modi met with President Subianto, reaffirming their mutual commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. Both countries have a shared vision of enhancing maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Geographically, India and Indonesia are close maritime neighbors with strong cultural and trade ties that span over a thousand years. Indonesia is a key player in India’s Act East Policy, and it is one of India’s largest trading partners within the ASEAN region. In 2023, bilateral trade between the two countries reached USD 29.4 billion.

Indian investments in Indonesia have also grown. In sectors like infrastructure, power, textiles, automotive, and mining, India has invested over USD 1.56 billion. Additionally, both nations have expanded their defense and security cooperation since signing a defense cooperation agreement in 2018.

Indonesia is home to around 150,000 people of Indian origin, whose ancestors migrated during the 19th and 20th centuries. In total, approximately 14,000 Indian nationals currently reside in Indonesia, working in various fields such as IT, finance, and engineering.

This visit by President Subianto marks a new chapter in the ongoing strengthening of ties between the two countries, setting the stage for even closer collaboration in the years to come.