Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto Arrives For Four-Day Visit To India Ahead Of Republic Day celebrations

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived in New Delhi on Thursday night for his first state visit to India. He was welcomed by Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, at the airport. The visit, scheduled from January 23 to 26, aims to strengthen the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the visit’s importance. “This visit will further strengthen the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X. President Prabowo will also serve as the Chief Guest at India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

During his visit, President Prabowo will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Discussions will focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas such as security, maritime affairs, and digital technology.

On January 25, the Indonesian President will participate in a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat. Later, he will meet PM Modi at Hyderabad House, where Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will be exchanged, followed by press statements. Meetings with Vice President Dhankhar and President Murmu are also scheduled for later in the day.

President Prabowo shared details of his visit on X, expressing a commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation with India. “Close cooperation with friendly countries has always been our priority to build a stronger and more prosperous region together,” he stated.

Historic Parade Participation

The highlight of President Prabowo’s visit will be his participation as the Chief Guest at the Republic Day Parade on January 26. This year’s parade will feature a 352-member marching and band contingent from Indonesia, marking the first time an Indonesian unit participates in a national day parade abroad.

India and Indonesia have shared strong cultural, trade, and maritime ties for centuries. The Bali Yatra festival, commemorating ancient voyages by Indian seafarers to Bali, underscores this connection. In 2018, PM Modi’s visit to Indonesia elevated bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The two countries also have robust defence cooperation, formalized through a Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in 2018. While a new defence deal is not expected during this visit, Indonesia is keen to learn from India’s expertise in strengthening its defence systems.

Bilateral trade reached $29.40 billion in 2023-24, making Indonesia one of India’s largest trading partners in the ASEAN region. Indian investments in Indonesia span sectors like infrastructure, power, and consumer goods.

President Prabowo will depart for Malaysia after his visit to India. His trip reflects Indonesia’s commitment to fostering regional partnerships for mutual growth.

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