India, Indonesia Discuss Defence Cooperation And Expertise Exchange

India and Indonesia held the 12th Army-to-Army Staff Talks in Lucknow from August 11 to 13, focusing on strengthening defence cooperation, expanding joint training and enhancing exchanges of military expertise. The discussions also sought to deepen military-to-military ties and reaffirm the two countries’ commitment to their strategic partnership.

The Indian Army delegation held discussions with the Indonesian Army, or TNI-AD, delegation led by Brig Gen Ari Prasetya, VACOS Intelligence. According to the Army, the talks covered areas of bilateral defence cooperation and opportunities to expand professional engagement between the two forces.

The discussions come amid broader efforts by India and Indonesia to strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Indonesia for three days and held talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and discussed regional, global and multilateral issues, including their shared commitment to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

Also Read: India And Japan Discuss Measures To Enhance Defence Cooperation

The partnership covers several sectors, including trade and investment, defence and security, maritime cooperation, energy, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, space, critical minerals, culture and tourism. During Modi’s visit, the two sides also exchanged several bilateral documents covering areas such as maritime safety, space cooperation, defence, rare earths, health, agriculture and science and technology.

India and Indonesia have also expanded military engagement through multilateral exercises. In May, the Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in IOR (PRAGATI) 2026 exercise was held in Meghalaya, bringing together more than 400 troops from 12 friendly foreign countries, including Indonesia.

The two-week exercise involved personnel from Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The Indian Army said the exercise strengthened regional cooperation, interoperability and strategic coordination while reinforcing the participating countries’ collective commitment to peace, stability and security in the Indian Ocean Region.

Also Read: India, Vietnam Review Defence Cooperation, Reaffirm Strategic Partnership