Both countries, located close in the Indo-Pacific region, share common interests in maintaining maritime security, safeguarding freedom of navigation, and promoting regional stability.

This bilateral cooperation is set to deepen further, with Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Indian Navy, embarking on a four-day official visit to Indonesia from December 15 to 18.

Admiral Tripathi's visit comes at a time when both nations are making concerted efforts to enhance their defence ties, particularly in maritime security, as part of the broader framework of their "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP)".

This partnership, which was formalised in 2011, has grown steadily, with a focus on addressing common security concerns, fostering greater defence cooperation, and advancing shared regional and global goals.

The bilateral defence ties between India and Indonesia have been steadily expanding, with a focus on strengthening cooperation across various domains.

Maritime cooperation, in particular, has emerged as a key area of engagement due to the growing importance of the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions for both nations.

The maritime domain holds strategic significance for India and Indonesia, both of which are crucial players in the region.

As maritime nations, both countries share a vested interest in ensuring the security of their sea lanes, combating piracy and maritime terrorism, and addressing other challenges like illegal fishing and transnational crime.

One of the pillars of the India-Indonesia relationship is their commitment to regional peace and security.

India’s "Act East Policy," which aims to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific region, aligns closely with Indonesia’s efforts to maintain stability in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

This shared vision has paved the way for closer defence collaboration, especially in the naval sector.

The focus on strengthening "naval cooperation" has been reflected in a series of engagements, such as joint naval exercises, port visits, and professional exchanges.

These efforts have helped both countries better understand each other’s maritime challenges, improve operational interoperability, and foster stronger defence ties.

The visit of Admiral Tripathi to Indonesia is expected to be another key step in enhancing these ongoing defence initiatives.

Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi's visit to Indonesia is not only a symbol of the growing naval ties between the two countries but also an important opportunity for dialogue on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the maritime domain.

During his visit, Admiral Tripathi is expected to engage in a series of high-level meetings with Indonesian defence and naval officials, including his counterpart, the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Laut, TNI-AL).

These meetings will likely focus on various areas of naval collaboration, including operational cooperation, joint training, defence technology exchange, and capacity-building efforts.

One of the key objectives of Admiral Tripathi’s visit is to explore avenues for expanding joint naval exercises between the two countries.

Over the years, India and Indonesia have conducted several joint maritime drills, most notably the "Samudra Shakti" exercise, which has been held biennially since 2018.

These exercises focus on improving anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, and humanitarian assistance, and have become an important platform for enhancing interoperability and deepening defence relations between the two navies.

Moreover, the two sides are likely to discuss further enhancing maritime domain awareness (MDA) cooperation, which has been a key area of focus for both nations.

Given the growing challenges in the maritime environment, such as piracy, illegal fishing, and transnational crime, improving MDA through the exchange of information and surveillance data is crucial.

India’s establishment of the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), which serves as a hub for sharing maritime security information, provides an ideal platform for greater collaboration between India and Indonesia in this regard.

The visit is expected to provide an opportunity to explore how both nations can better utilise this platform to address shared security challenges.

Admiral Tripathi’s visit also holds significance for fostering deeper defence industrial collaboration.

As India seeks to become more self-reliant in defence production under its "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-reliant India) initiative, Indonesia has shown interest in collaborating with India in the defence sector.

This includes potential technology transfer agreements and joint development of naval platforms, such as submarines and surface vessels.

The discussions during this visit could lay the groundwork for future defence industrial partnerships that could benefit both countries’ naval capabilities.

The Indo-Pacific region, where both India and Indonesia are located, has become an area of strategic competition, particularly with the rise of China’s influence and assertiveness in maritime issues.

Both countries have expressed concerns about the growing militarisation of the South China Sea and the challenges it poses to freedom of navigation and the rules-based international order.

As a result, India and Indonesia have worked together to promote peace and stability in the region through multilateral forums, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

Both nations are also committed to the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which provides the legal framework for maritime disputes and the resolution of maritime claims.

This shared commitment to UNCLOS underscores the importance of a rules-based international order and reflects the common understanding between India and Indonesia on maritime security issues.

The growing presence of Chinese naval forces in the Indo-Pacific, along with Beijing’s expansionist policies, particularly in the South China Sea, has prompted both India and Indonesia to bolster their naval capabilities.

The collaboration between India and Indonesia serves as a counterbalance to these growing security challenges and reinforces their strategic partnership.

Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi’s visit to Indonesia comes at a crucial juncture in the deepening India-Indonesia maritime relationship.

The growing cooperation between the two nations in the naval domain reflects their shared commitment to regional peace and security in the Indo-Pacific.

By strengthening bilateral defence relations, particularly through joint naval exercises, maritime domain awareness, and defence industrial collaboration, India and Indonesia are laying a strong foundation for continued cooperation in the years ahead.

As both nations face growing maritime challenges, particularly in the face of external threats and geopolitical uncertainty, their partnership serves as a model for how regional players can work together to safeguard their mutual interests.

Admiral Tripathi’s visit is a step forward in the strategic partnership between India and Indonesia, which will play a crucial role in ensuring the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region for years to come.