India and Indonesia are in the final stalls to interact on the deal of $ 450 million (€ 440 million) for the export of “BrahMos” supersonic cruise missiles.
If concluded, Indonesia wants to become another ASEAN nation to achieve this missile system, after the Indonesia Philippines.
Indonesian President Prabovo, during the recent visit of Judasto to New Delhi, where he was a guest of honor on India’s Republic Day, met with Brahmin CEO Jaiteth Joshi in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A high-level delegation led by Indonesian Navy chief Admiral Muhammad Ali visited the BrahMos facility.
Defense boost amidst China’s stress
Jointly developed missiles by India and Russia have gained traction in many countries of Southeast Asia and Middle East, looking for the purchase of both edge-based and ship-mounted coversions.
Many experts believe that missile procurement is part of Indonesia’s broad strategy, which is to increase its naval strength and modernize its military military amidst China’s regional ambitions and security concerns related to unconsciousness in the region.
China is chasing regional ambitions in the South China Sea, despite overlapping the claims of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam.
Srikanth Kondapalli, a professor of Chinese study at Jawaharlal Nehru University, told DW that Indonesia is in an advanced stage of India’s offering dialogue to supply Brahmos cruise missiles and should not have sea oaths.
Kondapalli said, “I don’t think India is worried about it. China had transferred nuclear and ballistic missiles to Pakistan and submarines to Myanmar, Bangladesh and others, thus imposing Indian security.”
“At that time, China mentioned that it is a deal between sovereign country and now Southeast Asia, or any other country should be angry about Indian sales.
India’s Ministry of Defense and Foreign Office refused to comment on the nuances of the missile deal.
Balance of India act
Since October last year, India and China have been engaged in a series of confidence building measures for the purpose of normalizing their bilateral relations, which was beta stressful due to border disputes and geopolitical stresses.
The renewed engagement follows an important meeting between mode and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the occasion of the October 2024 BRICS summit in Russian city Kazan.
The two countries have proceeded to stabilize relationships to resume direct air services, start pilgrimage and increase border trade.
It began when the two sides pulled back their troops with two face-off points on their high-high border after the border struggle in 2020, resulting in the death of 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers.
Kondapalli said that by inciting Indonesia, India is indicating that its association with China will not come at the cost of its Indo-Pacific commitments.
“The sale of Brahmins is related to the balance of power in Southeast Asia as China is making the region military for exclusion of other countries,” Heer said.
Honorary Director of the Institute of Chinese Studies in New Delhi, Alka Acharya said that the missile has been on the card for a long time and has inspired criticism from some Chinese commentator.
“This is not a new proposal so that it is associated with current stresses. But obviously, it will not be noticed or disregard and the Chinese official response will definitely tell their objects firmly which are disqualified to China,” Acharya told DW.
“However, the Indian situation should be that it is not against any third country and is for the legitimate defense of Indonesia. The generalization process between India and China is not derailed,” he said.
Deelarnce without conflict
India and Indonesia are concerned about China’s growing muscles flexing, making the analyst argued that the “China Factor” provides a strong base for bilateral security cooperation.
Indonesia has repeated conflicts with China on Natuna Islands, where sugar fishing ships and coast protection ships have entered its EEZ.
In a few weeks, a high -level Indonesian Defense Delegation delegation is expected to visit India to continue discussing defense cooperation.
Former diplomat, Anil Wadhwa said that this trend of diversifying defense participation away from traditional dependence on China shed is not seen as encroachment on China’s influence area, which may lead to potential diplomatic friction.
Wadhwa said, “China is actively helping Pakistan to develop its naval capacity and its Air Force through the F -17 fighter jet which are allies and are produced and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well as Myanmar The sale of military equipment is facilitated. “
Wadhwa referred to the Philippines’ $ 375 million BrahMos anti-ship missile system of 2022.
“As far as the proposed Indian sales of Brahmin missiles for Indonesia is concerned and for the Philippines, all this is a reaction to the country, which is a defensive fixation against Chinese aggression in the South China Sea It is demanding, “He is said that India should not be too concerned about Chinese response under the under -under -under -under -under -under -under -under -under -under -under -under -under.
Edited by: Keith Walker
