Deal for the BrahMos systems close to conclusion, say sources
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will visit India as the chief guest for the Republic Day Parade this year, with the Indonesian Army bringing the largest foreign contingent ever to march down Kartavya Path alongside India’s military.
The visit on January 25-26, announced by New Delhi and Jakarta simultaneously, will make Mr. Prabowo the fourth Indonesian president to be invited as the chief guest on India’s Republic Day. President Sukarno had attended the first in 1950.
According to sources, the two countries are also close to concluding a $450 million deal for BrahMos supersonic cruise missile systems, which would make Indonesia the second export customer for the joint Indo-Russian system, which could be announced during the visit. Sources confirmed that Indonesia’s Defence Ministry has officially sent a request to the Indian Embassy in Jakarta over the proposed deal for BrahMos, that was earlier also procured by the Philippines. The request is now being processed by the Defence Ministry for a detailed response, the sources said. Indonesia has also expressed interest in procuring other Indian military platforms like the Dhruv advanced light helicopters and Akash air defence systems.
Mr. Prabowo, the former Defence Minister of Indonesia under President Joko Widodo, had been sworn in as President in October 2024. As The Hindu had reported in November, New Delhi had reached out shortly after with the invitation for Republic Day to Mr. Prabowo, which was extended to him as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met him on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Rio De Janeiro on November 19.
“India and Indonesia share warm and friendly ties spanning over millennia. As a comprehensive strategic partner, Indonesia is an important pillar in India’s Act East Policy and our vision of the Indo-Pacific,” said the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement, announcing the visit that will mark the 75th year of ties between the two countries that upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2018.
“President Prabowo and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will witness the exchange of a number of Memorandums of Understanding between the governments of the two countries in various sectors, including health, culture, education, maritime security and safety, traditional medicine, which aim to strengthen cooperation between the two countries,” the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday. “The visit of the Indonesian President to India confirms the strengthening and expansion of strategic cooperation between Indonesia and India, especially in the economic, defence and maritime sectors,” it added, disclosing that Mr. Prabowo would be accompanied by a 352-member military contingent that would march down the parade route.
The massive army contingent, the largest foreign contingent so far, has been practising for the event for several months, officials said, and will include 152 marching troops and 189 cadets from the military bands. In 2016, France became the first foreign contingent to march on then Rajpath as its President was the chief guest. Since then it has become a practice to invite the military marching contingent of the guest country. However, the Indonesian Air Force will not take part in the flypast. An earlier proposal to invite the Indonesian Army band to perform at the Beating of The Retreat on January 29 as well was shelved due to logistical issues.
According to the official programme, Mr. Prabowo will pay his respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and receive a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt on January 25, followed by a bilateral meeting with Mr. Modi at Hyderabad House. He will go to the parade on January 26 and attend the “At Home” tea hosted by President Droupadi Murmu before leaving.
Indonesian President to be chief guest at Republic Day celebrations
Deal for the BrahMos systems close to conclusion, say sources
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will visit India as the chief guest for the Republic Day Parade this year, with the Indonesian Army bringing the largest foreign contingent ever to march down Kartavya Path alongside India’s military.
The visit on January 25-26, announced by New Delhi and Jakarta simultaneously, will make Mr. Prabowo the fourth Indonesian president to be invited as the chief guest on India’s Republic Day. President Sukarno had attended the first in 1950.
According to sources, the two countries are also close to concluding a $450 million deal for BrahMos supersonic cruise missile systems, which would make Indonesia the second export customer for the joint Indo-Russian system, which could be announced during the visit. Sources confirmed that Indonesia’s Defence Ministry has officially sent a request to the Indian Embassy in Jakarta over the proposed deal for BrahMos, that was earlier also procured by the Philippines. The request is now being processed by the Defence Ministry for a detailed response, the sources said. Indonesia has also expressed interest in procuring other Indian military platforms like the Dhruv advanced light helicopters and Akash air defence systems.
Mr. Prabowo, the former Defence Minister of Indonesia under President Joko Widodo, had been sworn in as President in October 2024. As The Hindu had reported in November, New Delhi had reached out shortly after with the invitation for Republic Day to Mr. Prabowo, which was extended to him as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met him on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Rio De Janeiro on November 19.
“India and Indonesia share warm and friendly ties spanning over millennia. As a comprehensive strategic partner, Indonesia is an important pillar in India’s Act East Policy and our vision of the Indo-Pacific,” said the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement, announcing the visit that will mark the 75th year of ties between the two countries that upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2018.
“President Prabowo and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will witness the exchange of a number of Memorandums of Understanding between the governments of the two countries in various sectors, including health, culture, education, maritime security and safety, traditional medicine, which aim to strengthen cooperation between the two countries,” the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday. “The visit of the Indonesian President to India confirms the strengthening and expansion of strategic cooperation between Indonesia and India, especially in the economic, defence and maritime sectors,” it added, disclosing that Mr. Prabowo would be accompanied by a 352-member military contingent that would march down the parade route.
The massive army contingent, the largest foreign contingent so far, has been practising for the event for several months, officials said, and will include 152 marching troops and 189 cadets from the military bands. In 2016, France became the first foreign contingent to march on then Rajpath as its President was the chief guest. Since then it has become a practice to invite the military marching contingent of the guest country. However, the Indonesian Air Force will not take part in the flypast. An earlier proposal to invite the Indonesian Army band to perform at the Beating of The Retreat on January 29 as well was shelved due to logistical issues.
According to the official programme, Mr. Prabowo will pay his respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and receive a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt on January 25, followed by a bilateral meeting with Mr. Modi at Hyderabad House. He will go to the parade on January 26 and attend the “At Home” tea hosted by President Droupadi Murmu before leaving.
NO COMMENT