PM Modi pushes for stronger India-Indonesia maritime cooperation

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is pushing for stronger maritime cooperation between India and Indonesia, a key part of the ‘Ganga-Mahakam Vision’ he is promoting for a new era in bilateral relations. “As two great maritime nations, we will transform maritime geography into shared prosperity,” Modi said in a speech before members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday. “From Sabang to Nicobar, from the gateway of Malacca to the Indo-Pacific, we will create new opportunities in connectivity, logistics, the blue economy, maritime security, and resilient trade,” he added. Although New Delhi and Jakarta are separated by thousands of kilometres, Modi noted that the shores of the two countries are only about 150 kilometres apart. He was referring to the distance between Sabang in Aceh and the Great Nicobar project, which India is developing to support its maritime industry and connectivity. “While the sea may separate other nations, for India and Indonesia, the sea has never represented distance. The sea has always been a bridge between us, the centre of our shared future,” Modi said. By leveraging the large populations of both countries, Modi expressed confidence that India and Indonesia can enhance bilateral cooperation based on the spirit of ‘development for all’. “India, Indonesia, and the Indian Ocean showcase the long history of our relationship. The ocean presents limitless opportunities for us. Therefore, I invite you to elevate the relationship between our two countries to a higher level,” he said. The governments of Indonesia and India have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening maritime connectivity through the development of strategic ports in Sabang and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In a joint statement with PM Modi at the Merdeka Palace on Tuesday, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto expressed optimism that enhanced maritime connectivity would not only facilitate smoother trade and investment flows but also foster closer people-to-people ties through increased regional mobility. Prabowo expressed hope that the development of the maritime corridor would be a concrete step in strengthening the Indonesia-India strategic partnership in the broader Indo-Pacific region. Geographically, Sabang, located on Weh Island in Aceh, is approximately 700 kilometres southeast of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and only about 160 kilometres from India’s Great Nicobar project. Both locations face the northern entrance of the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints, channelling a significant portion of global trade and energy supplies.