The two Ministers during telephonic talks exchanged views on security situation in the region

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday held a telephonic conversation with his Indonesian counterpart General Prabowo Subianto and both Ministers expressed satisfaction at the ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries in spite of the limitations imposed by COVID 19.

The two Ministers exchanged views on the security situation in the region and the need for a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law.

They expressed satisfaction at further promoting defence ties between the two countries. During the telephonic conversation, the Ministers reviewed the progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives and expressed commitment to further elevate engagements between the Armed Forces under the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The Ministers agreed that both countries need to enhance cooperation in Defence Industry and Technology domain and look forward to even greater synergy in this field.

India and Indonesia will soon hold a joint drill between their air forces as they seek to strengthen bilateral military ties.

“In terms of military cooperation, we have strengthened from coordinated patrol in the Andaman Sea that has been going on at least for the past 17 years. We have army-to-army exercises, navy-to-navy, and soon we will start air force to air force” outgoing Ambassador of Indonesia to India, Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro had said at a programme in New Delhi recently.

In December, navies of the two countries had conducted 35th edition of their Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) exercise in the Indian Ocean.

Indian Navy’s ship INS Kulish, an indigenously built missile corvette along with P8I maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) had undertaken a coordinated patrol with Indonesian naval ship KRI Cut Nyak Dien, a Kapitan Pattimura (Parchim I) class corvette and a maritime patrol aircraft of the Indonesian Navy.

As part of India’s vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with countries in the Indian Ocean Region for Coordinated Patrols, cooperation in EEZ surveillance, passage exercises and bilateral/ multilateral exercises, towards enhancing regional maritime security.

India and Indonesia have especially enjoyed a close and friendly relationship covering a wide spectrum of activities and interactions, which have strengthened over the years.

To reinforce maritime links, the two navies have been carrying out CORPAT along their international maritime boundary line since 2002, with the aim of ensuring safety and security of shipping and international trade in the region.