India, Indonesia hold second security dialogue

• The Second India-Indonesia Security Dialogue (IISD) was held in Jakarta, co-chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Indonesia’s Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mohammad Mahfud MD.

• The IISD is a forum that brings the coordinating minister for political, legal, and security affairs of Indonesia and the NSA of India together to discuss and enhance cooperation between the two countries on political and security issues.

• During the meeting, they recognised the importance of traditional friendly relationship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries and expressed confidence that the IISD would strengthen the cooperation between them to overcome common challenges and identified opportunities for further close collaboration in the field of political and security issues.

• They discussed several shared priorities, including review of the current global and security issues, countering terrorism and violent extremism, and enhancing maritime, defence, and cyber security cooperation.

• They also signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for security dialogue between the coordinating ministry for political, legal, and security affairs of Indonesia and the National Security Council Secretariat of India.

India-Indonesia relations

• India and Indonesia have maintained a long history of interaction in the domains of culture, language, art, and architecture for several centuries.

• Both countries celebrated 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2019.

• Close historical, cultural and commercial ties between the two countries which dates back to more than 2,000 years is reflected across the length and breadth of Indonesia. The great Majapahit Dynasty and before that the Sriwijaya kingdom had deep cultural, religious and economic linkages with India. 

• India’s ‘Look East Policy’ in 1991 and the return of democracy to Indonesia in 1998 brought a greater synergy to the bilateral ties. 

• Both countries have recently witnessed intensive engagement in the political, strategic, defence, security, and economic spheres. There have been a number of meetings at the ministerial level, especially those concerned with foreign affairs, security, defense and trade.

• Both sides achieved a wide ranging convergence of strategic thinking and have finalised a plan of action to implement the same. 

• India and Indonesia elevated the bilateral ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018.

• Both sides have also signed on the Shared Vision of India-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, which highlights the importance of the region for both countries and immense potential for creating synergies between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and President Joko Widodo’s ‘Global Maritime Fulcrum Policy’.

• Both India and Indonesia have a shared vision for building a peaceful regional order and cooperate on a number of important security issues, including anti-terrorism and maritime security.

• There are regular Parliamentary exchanges between two countries.

• Indonesia is India’s second largest trade partner in ASEAN region. Both sides have set a target of $50 billion by 2025.

• India is the second largest buyer of coal and crude palm oil from Indonesia and imports minerals, rubber, pulp and paper and hydrocarbons reserves. India exports refined petroleum products, commercial vehicles, telecommunication equipment, agriculture commodities, bovine meat, steel products and plastics to Indonesia.

• There is a considerable potential for expanding trade in the areas of automotive components, automobiles, engineering products, IT, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and healthcare sectors. Infrastructure development and energy security are key areas for cooperation for emerging economies like India and Indonesia.

• As Indonesia has taken over the G20 Presidency for the year 2022, and will be followed by India in 2023, several high-level interactions between the two countries are set to take place. 

• India and Indonesia have been carrying out Coordinated Patrols (IND-INDO CORPAT) along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) since 2002, with an aim of keeping the Indian Ocean Region safe and secure for commercial shipping, international trade and conduct of legitimate maritime activities. CORPATs help build understanding and interoperability between navies, and facilitate institution of measures to prevent and suppress Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy. The 36th edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy was conducted from July 30-31, 2021.

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