New Delhi (Defence correspondent): In a development that can be path breaking for south Asia, India and Indonesia are expected to announce the BrahMos deal soon. Sources in the defence ministry have indicated that both countries are actively discussing and finalizing the agreement that may be worth USD 450 million.
If sources in the government are to be believed, the deal is in its final stages and it is expected that India will soon offer a loan to Indonesia. The specifics of the loan are currently being finalized.
Even as the deal has been in the pipeline for some time now, the deal is also crucial for Indonesia as once finalised the country will become the second ASEAN country after the Philippines to acquire BrahMos.
In a simultaneous development that may also be seen as a sign of strengthening bond between the two countries, defence sources also have hinted that the President of Indonesia may visit India as the chief guest this Republic Day.
For this, a marching contingent, along with an aerial display, is also expected to participate in the grand celebration. An announcement regarding the potential deal may happen as early as Republic Day in India.
But this would not be the first time when the two countries have signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement.
Since 2001, India and Indonesia have had regular defence exchanges including the exchange of high level visits, ship visits, officers studying in Staff Colleges in either country and joint coordinated patrols in the mouth of the Malacca Straits.
India’s Raksha Mantri also visited Indonesia on 15-17 October 2012 as part of the biennial dialogue between the two Defence Ministers agreed during President Yudhoyono’s visit to India in January 2011.
From Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meets to Navy-to-Navy Talks and from India-Indonesia CORPAT (Coordinated Patrol) the Jakarta International Defence Dialogues, the two countries have been at the forefront of defence cooperation and technology sharing.
Other than these, a number of high profile commercial events have also been held in Indonesia to give a boost to bilateral Trade and Investment relations between the two countries.
The two countries have also participated in innovation programs and have displayed passion for advancement of defence infrastructure.
India has always been of this opinion that Indonesia is one of its significant geographical neighbours. Not only India and Indonesia share a maritime boundary but also have similarly diverse, multi ethnic, multi religious and democratic formation.
Moreover, in the context of India’s ‘Look East Policy’, Indonesia also is the largest and most influential member of ASEAN. Importantly, India also recognises that as it works towards strengthening political and economic convergence with countries in the south and southeast Asian region, Indonesia’s role is and will be, in times to come, remain critical and its support to India will be vital.
