India, Indonesia hold 12th Army talks as Jakarta deepens defence ties with China
India and Indonesia hold 12th Army-to-Army Staff Talks in Lucknow. Image Credit: X/@adgpi.
New Delhi: India and Indonesia held their 12th Army-to-Army Staff Talks (AAST) in Lucknow from August 11 to 13, with discussions centred on defence cooperation, joint training and exchanges between the two armies. The talks come as Indonesia continues to expand its defence engagement with India while maintaining military cooperation with China.
The Indian Army said the talks with the Indonesian Army covered bilateral defence cooperation, joint training and the exchange of military expertise. The Indonesian delegation was led by Brigadier General Ari Prasetya.
The talks followed the prime minister, Narendra Modi’s visit to Indonesia in July, when he met Indonesian president, Prabowo Subianto, to review the full range of bilateral relations. Defence and security, maritime cooperation, space, critical minerals, trade and investment were among the areas discussed during the visit.
India and Indonesia also exchanged bilateral documents covering areas including maritime safety and security, defence, space cooperation, health, agriculture, science and technology, and rare earths. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Jakarta balances ties with India and China
The latest Army talks come as Indonesia is also preparing for a naval exercise with China. China’s defence ministry said a Chinese naval warship and an Indonesian naval ship will conduct a joint navigation exercise in mid-August in waters east of Taiwan.
The drill will include communication exercises and at-sea replenishment, with the stated aim of improving cooperation and operational capabilities between the two navies.
The location is particularly sensitive because of China’s claims over Taiwan and its growing military and coast guard activity around the island. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, while Taiwan rejects China’s sovereignty claims.
Indonesia’s participation in the exercise does not by itself indicate that Jakarta has taken China’s side on the Taiwan issue. Instead, its engagement with both Beijing and New Delhi reflects its broader approach of maintaining relationships with major powers while retaining strategic flexibility.
For India, Indonesia is an important partner in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region. The two countries have shared interests in maritime security, regional stability and greater cooperation across Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.
Growing military engagement
The latest talks add to a growing pattern of military engagement between India and Indonesia.
In May, India hosted PRAGATI 2026 in Meghalaya, bringing together more than 400 troops from 12 friendly foreign countries, including Indonesia. The exercise focused on regional cooperation, interoperability and security in the Indian Ocean Region.
The Army-to-Army Staff Talks provide a separate institutional mechanism for the two countries to strengthen their military relationship through regular discussions, training and professional exchanges.
The latest talks add to the growing defence engagement between India and Indonesia, with both sides looking to expand military cooperation through training and professional exchanges.
