Rupal Kalebere and Commodore Sujeet Samaddar, NM (Retd)
In a significant development, the 7th India-Indonesia Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting was held in New Delhi on May 3, 2024. The meeting, co-chaired by Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane and Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence, Indonesia, Air Marshal Donny Ermawan Taufanto, M.D.S., underscored the growing bilateral defence cooperation between the two nations.
India and Indonesia, bound by a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, have been enhancing their defence ties significantly over the years. The recent meeting marked another step forward in this direction. On 30 Apr 2024, the Indo-Indosia Defence Industry Exhibition-com Seminar was organised at Jakarta which marked a new peak in the defence relations between the two countries. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the expanding scope of defence cooperation, reflecting the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations.
During the meeting, the progress made on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives was reviewed, including those discussed in the meetings of Working Groups on Defence Cooperation and Defence Industries Cooperation. Moreover, the dignitaries identified areas for enhancing collaboration, especially in defence industry ties, maritime security, and multilateral cooperation.
As part of his visit to India, Air Marshal Donny Ermawan Taufanto, M.D.S., visited prominent Indian defence establishments, including the DRDO headquarters in New Delhi, TATA Advanced Systems, L&T Defence facilities in Pune, and other Indian defence industry partners such as Bharat Forge, Mahindra Defence, and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. These visits aimed at exploring ways to enhance defence industrial capabilities through cooperation in research and joint production.
The visit also included a meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, further highlighting the importance both countries attach to their defence cooperation.
The India-Indonesia partnership is not limited to bilateral cooperation but extends to the broader Indo-Pacific region. Both nations share a vision for the Indo-Pacific and are committed to maintaining peace and stability in the region. Indonesia is a crucial partner in India’s Act East Policy, and their cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region is becoming increasingly significant.
The visit of Air Marshal Donny Ermawan Taufanto, M.D.S., to India from May 2nd to May 4th, 2024, signifies the depth of the defence cooperation between India and Indonesia. It underscores the commitment of both nations to further strengthen their defence ties for mutual benefit and for promoting peace and stability in the region. The 42nd INDIA-INDONESIA COORDINATED PATROL with additional elements fo Garud Shakti and Samudra Shakti were conducted in May 2024.
The India-Indonesia defence partnership is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the security architecture of the Indo-Pacific, and the recent JDCC meeting is a testament to the growing strategic convergence between the two nations. With an expanding scope of defence cooperation and shared interests, the future holds even greater promise for India-Indonesia defence relations. Together the two countries can make a meaningful contribution to the Indo-Pacific arena particularly in the sectors of cooperation in security, collaboration to reduce and remove plastic pollution and coordination in combatting IUU and overfishing, maritime terrorism and piracy.