Indonesian fighter jets escort PM Modi's plane to Jakarta; Prabowo welcomes rare airport | Follow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jakarta on Monday and began his three-nation tour with a welcoming ceremony in Indonesia. In a rare diplomatic gesture, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto personally received Modi at the airport, while Indonesian Air Force fighter jets escorted the prime minister’s plane after it entered the country’s airspace.

Modi was also welcomed with a cultural performance upon his arrival.

Focus on strategic partnerships and Act East policy

Before leaving New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi said his visits to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand will strengthen India’s Act East Policy and its vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Development of Security Across Regions), which aims to promote regional security, sustainable development and shared prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

According to PTI, Modi noted that India and Indonesia have upgraded their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership during his visit to the Southeast Asian country in 2018. This is his first bilateral visit to Indonesia since then and comes after President Prabowo’s state visit to India as the chief guest for Republic Day celebrations in January 2025.

Prime Minister Modi said that India and Indonesia share deep civilizational ties and strong people-to-people relations, expressing confidence that the visit will further strengthen the multilateral partnership between the two countries. Bilateral cooperation currently includes trade, defence, maritime security, connectivity, digital technology and cultural exchanges.

According to PTI, Indonesian Air Force fighter jets escorted Modi’s special aircraft after it entered the country’s airspace, a ceremonial honor reserved for visiting heads of government. The escort continued until the plane landed in Jakarta. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju later shared a video of the aerial escort on social media.

Temple visit, diaspora interaction and other stops

During his visit, Modi is also scheduled to interact with members of the Indian diaspora in Indonesia. He accompanies President Prabowo to the Prambanan Temple Complex in Yogyakarta, Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple and one of the country’s most important cultural monuments.

The centuries-old temple complex is located about 17 kilometers northeast of the city of Yogyakarta and symbolizes the historical and cultural ties between India and Indonesia. The visit is expected to highlight the long-standing civilizational relationship between the two nations and underscore cultural diplomacy as a key pillar of bilateral ties.

After the end of the Indonesian leg of the tour, Modi will travel to Melbourne at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Discussions are expected to focus on expanding cooperation in trade, security, critical minerals and regional stability.

The last stop of the three-country tour will be Auckland, where Modi will visit at the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. According to PTI, the visit is aimed at deepening cooperation with New Zealand in trade, education and Indo-Pacific cooperation.

The three-nation tour reflects India’s ongoing efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships across the Indo-Pacific while advancing its Act East policy through deeper diplomatic engagement, economic cooperation and cultural outreach.