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Lessons from India's foreign policy

Prabowo's meeting last week with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely be among the most relevant to his ambition to become a global player while remaining independent in facing a more multipolar world.

Editorial board (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Thu, January 30, 2025

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Lessons from India's foreign policy President Prabowo Subianto and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive for a photo opportunity ahead of their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, on Jan. 25, 2025. (Reuters/Altaf Hussain)
Versi Bahasa Indonesia

S

ince he came to power in October, President Prabowo Subianto has visited several major world leaders, such as Chinese President Xi Jinping, United States President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But his meeting last week with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely be among the most, if not the most, relevant to his ambition to become a global player while remaining independent in facing a more multipolar world.

Both Indonesian president Sukarno and Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru were co-founders of the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) in the 1950s. Indonesia's foreign policy is based on the "free and active" principle. India, especially under Modi, sticks to the long-standing policy of neutrality and non-alignment while also non-committed to a certain party.

The world recognizes India and Indonesia as the world's largest and third largest democracies, respectively. They are also members of the world's 20 largest economies. The two countries also have direct borders between Aceh and the Andaman Islands.

In the words of an Indian intellectual, Modi will allow Trump to "get some quick wins by making some minor concessions, to ensure that India can try to get on his side". Prabowo should know very well that it is just a matter of time before Trump tells him to give major concessions to the US. Prabowo needs these skills and patience.

President Prabowo conducted a four-day state visit to India to hold a bilateral meeting with PM Modi to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Indonesia-India diplomatic relations. Prabowo also became the chief guest of the 76th Republic of India celebration on Jan. 26. He became Indonesia's third guest after president Sukarno in 1950 and president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2011.

According to their official joint statement, Modi and Prabowo held comprehensive discussions covering the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation, including political, defense and security, maritime, economic, health and pharmaceuticals, food and energy security, digital transition, sustainable energy transition and blue economy, as well as education and cultural cooperation.

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Today, among ASEAN members, Indonesia is India's second-largest trading partner after Singapore. India is the second-largest buyer of coal and the largest buyer of crude palm oil from Indonesia. Indonesian imports include agricultural commodities, meat, steel, plastics and commercial vehicles.

Trade between India and Indonesia reached US$29.4 billion in 2024. Indonesia ranked as India's eighth-largest trading partner last year, while India recorded a $1.46 billion trade deficit with Indonesia in October.

Interestingly, the two leaders did not mention the planned joint development of Sabang Port in Aceh. When Modi visited Jakarta to meet then-president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in May 2018, the two leaders agreed to enhance cooperation on infrastructure and connectivity, including the development of the port in Aceh.

A senior Indonesian minister at that time also indicated that Sabang would also be developed as a military base. The port plan, however, was not followed up, reportedly because China raised objections to India's possible military presence near the Malacca Strait. However, Indonesia should not cancel the agreement because of China's political pressures.

Just one month before the arrival of President Prabowo in New Delhi, the Navies of the two countries held the 43rd Indonesia-India Coordinated Patrol, a biannual joint drill in Sabang, Aceh. Modi likely reminded Prabowo about the 2018 deal, although we do not know how Prabowo responded to the reminder.

Indonesia can also learn from India how to deal with diaspora issues. We have about 9 million Indonesian diaspora living in 90 countries, and the government is stepping up the efforts to lure them to do more for their country of origin.

The Indian diaspora is estimated to be about 18 million people and is one of the world's largest, richest and most influential. The Indian diaspora has shown the ability to strengthen India's global power.

Unlike his predecessor Jokowi, who emphasized an economic-dominated approach, Prabowo aims to become a foreign policy president who wants to include geopolitical military and security in his foreign policymaking.

President Prabowo should acquire many lessons from India which he can use in his arsenal.

 

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