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India and Indonesia Forge Deeper Ties

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(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained- Page No. – 16)

Topic: GS2 – International Relations
Context
● India and Indonesia strengthened their bilateral ties by signing agreements in key areas such as maritime security, health, traditional medicine, culture, and digital cooperation.

 Analysis of the news:

Historical Ties Rooted in Anti-Colonial Solidarity

  • India and Indonesia’s relationship dates back to their shared struggle against colonialism.
  • In the late 1940s, India, under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, extended unwavering support to Indonesia’s independence movement.
  • Efforts ranged from diplomatic backing to practical actions such as banning Dutch flights over Indian airspace and supporting Indonesian rebels with aid.
  • This era of solidarity culminated in a decade of mutual respect and collaboration, symbolized by Sukarno’s participation as the chief guest at India’s first Republic Day in 1950.

Divergence in the 1960s: A Strain in Relations

  • The 1960s marked a significant downturn in bilateral ties. Diverging policies towards China, with India’s relations souring after the 1959 Tibetan uprising and Indonesia’s growing closeness to Beijing, created rifts.
  • Sukarno’s support for Pakistan during the 1965 India-Pakistan war further strained relations, compounded by the domestic political upheaval in Indonesia that led to Suharto’s rise to power.

The Cold War Drift and Limited Engagement

  • During the Cold War, India aligned with the USSR, while Indonesia leaned towards the US.
  • Although the two countries signed key agreements like the 1977 maritime boundary pact, relations stagnated.
  • Mutual visits by leaders in the 1980s maintained minimal engagement, but ties remained far from the highs of the early 1950s.

Revitalization: Look East and Act East Policies

  • A turning point came in the 1990s with India’s ‘Look East’ policy under P.V. Narasimha Rao, aimed at strengthening ties with Southeast Asia.
  • Economic liberalization and the shared goal of regional cooperation in the post-Cold War era provided fertile ground for growth.
  • In 2014, the Modi government upgraded the approach to an ‘Act East’ policy, emphasizing tangible outcomes in areas like trade, security, and cultural exchange.

Contemporary Ties: Economic and Strategic Cooperation

  • India and Indonesia have developed robust trade relations, with Indonesia being India’s second-largest trading partner in ASEAN.
  • Bilateral trade surged from $4.3 billion in 2005-06 to $38.84 billion in 2022-23, fueled by commodities like coal, palm oil, and refined petroleum.
  • Strategic cooperation in maritime security and defense has also grown, reflecting shared interests in the Indo-Pacific.

Challenges and Future Prospects

  • Despite significant progress, India-Indonesia ties remain below potential.
  • Key challenges include limited diversification of trade, underutilization of cultural linkages, and insufficient alignment in Indo-Pacific strategies.
  • Strengthening people-to-people ties, expanding trade portfolios, and enhancing maritime collaboration could unlock the full potential of this partnership.

Conclusion

  • India and Indonesia, as major powers in the Indo-Pacific, hold immense potential to shape regional stability and economic growth.
  • Enhanced cooperation in this strategically vital region will benefit not only the two nations but also the broader international community.
Practice Question:  Analyze the historical evolution of India-Indonesia relations and discuss the significance of recent agreements in enhancing bilateral cooperation. How do these developments align with India’s ‘Act East’ policy and its strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific region? (250 Words /15 marks)

For more such UPSC related Current Affairs, Check Out –India-China Resume Bilateral Engagements with Focus on Rebuilding Trust and People-Centric Initiatives

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