Defence Minister Rajanth Singh today said that India and Indonesia share civilisational ties which go back thousands of years. He said, Both nations are maritime neighbours sharing historical, cultural, and civilizational linkages. These opening remarks were made by the Defence Minister during the third India-Indonesia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in New Delhi. Mr. Singh underlined that the values of pluralism, inclusiveness, and the rule of law are common to both our countries, and these shared values have given direction to our contemporary relations. The Minister said that today’s dialogue serves as a testament to the growing strength of both countries’ defence cooperation, which is an important pillar of our cooperation.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said that during the bilateral meeting, the ministers will review regional security developments, discuss multilateral issues and explore new areas to deepen bilateral defence cooperation. The ministry noted that the visit of Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin reflects the growing momentum in India-Indonesia defence engagement and signals a shared commitment to expand the partnership. This interaction comes months after the President of Indonesia’s visit to India in January, further reinforcing the strategic importance both countries attach to defence ties.