Three F-16s and Two Sukhois Escort PM Modi's Aircraft in Jakarta

Three F-16 fighter jets and two Sukhoi Su-27/30 aircraft from the Indonesian Air Force escorted the Indian presidential aircraft carrying Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it entered Indonesian airspace until it landed at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta on Monday afternoon. The Air India One presidential aircraft landed at Base Ops Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base at 5.20 p.m. Western Indonesia Time. President Prabowo Subianto greeted PM Modi at the foot of the aircraft steps. President Prabowo immediately shook hands with his state guest. The two exchanged greetings and then engaged in a brief conversation. President Prabowo subsequently introduced his cabinet ministers to PM Modi, including Foreign Minister Sugiono, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. In the same line, several Indian officials also welcomed PM Modi’s arrival, namely Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Sandeep Chakravorty, Indian Ambassador to ASEAN Shri Srinivas Gotru, and Indian Defence Attaché to Indonesia Captain Shiv Kumar. After shaking hands with all the Indonesian and Indian officials who welcomed him, PM Modi and President Prabowo walked together along a blue carpet flanked by a fully uniformed honour guard. The welcoming atmosphere was further enlivened as a group of dancers performed traditional Indonesian dances accompanied by traditional music. At Base Ops Halim Perdanakusuma, following the welcoming procession, Foreign Minister Sugiono explained that the official state welcome for PM Modi would be held on Tuesday at the Merdeka Palace. ‘The series of state visits by PM Modi will begin at the Merdeka Palace, then as usual there will be a tête-à-tête, followed by a bilateral meeting,’ said Foreign Minister Sugiono in response to reporters’ questions. Sugiono added that PM Modi is also scheduled to visit Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta. ‘One of the agreements reached between Indonesia and India is an effort to undertake — the term is — the restoration of Prambanan Temple,’ Sugiono stated.