JAKARTA: Indonesia and India pledged on Wednesday to step up defence andmaritime cooperation, with plans to develop a strategic Indonesian navalport in the Indian Ocean, the leaders of the two countries said aftermeeting in Jakarta.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi todiscuss, among other issues, developing infrastructure and an economic zoneat Sabang, on the tip of Sumatra island and at the mouth of the MalaccaStrait, one of the busiest shipping channels for global trade.
“India is a strategic defence partner…and we will continue to advance ourcooperation in developing infrastructure, including at Sabang Island andthe Andaman Islands,” Widodo told a news conference after the meeting atthe presidential palace.Analysts say the move comes amid concerns overChina’s rising maritime influence in the region, and is part of Modi’s “ActEast” policy of developing stronger ties with the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN).
Modi this year invited the leaders of all ten ASEAN nations to attend NewDelhi’s Republic Day parade, the biggest such gathering of foreign leadersat the annual event.
There has been tension in Southeast Asia over the disputed South China Sea,a busy waterway claimed in most part by China.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have conflictingclaims in the area, through which about $3 trillion worth of sea-bornegoods passes every year.
While not a claimant, Indonesia has clashed with Beijing over fishingrights around the Natuna Islands and expanded its military presence there.It has also renamed the northern reaches of its exclusive economic zone, toreassert its sovereignty.
Modi, who is making his first trip to Indonesia, is also set to visit theIstiqlal mosque in the capital of the world’s biggest Muslim-majoritycountry.
The Indian leader flies to Malaysia on Thursday to meet recently electedPrime Minister Mahathir Mohamad before heading to neighboring Singapore toaddress a regional security forum, the Shangri-La Dialogue.
Last week, Indonesia’s chief maritime affairs minister, Luhut Pandjaitan,said the existing port at Sabang, which is 40 meters (131 ft) deep, couldbe developed to accommodate both commercial vessels and submarines,according to media.
Indonesia’s transport minister told reporters on Wednesday the Sabang wouldget a transshipment port that could be developed over two years.
Asked about Indian investment in Sabang, Indian foreign ministry officialPreeti Saran said New Delhi was interested in helping build infrastructureacross Southeast Asia.
“There have been discussions about building infrastructure, it’s not justseaports, but airports,” she said. “There would be a lot of interest amongIndian companies.”
Widodo and Modi also signed pacts on cooperation in the pharmaceuticals andtechnology industries.