Indonesia confers highest civilian honour on PM Modi, hails deepening strategic partnership with India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Tuesday conferred Indonesia’s highest civilian honour, the Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia (Star of the Republic of Indonesia), by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during a ceremonial event at the Istana Merdeka Presidential Palace in Jakarta, marking another milestone in the rapidly expanding strategic relationship between the two Indo-Pacific partners.

The prestigious decoration, formally presented by President Prabowo during the Prime Minister’s state visit, is the highest class of Indonesia’s premier order of merit and represents the country’s highest civilian and military recognition, reserved for individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the nation.

The honour is the 35th international award conferred upon Modi by a foreign country, reflecting growing global recognition of his diplomatic outreach and India’s expanding role in regional and international affairs.

Accepting the award, Modi expressed gratitude to the Indonesian government and people, dedicating the honour to the people of India and describing it as a tribute to the centuries-old civilisational bond shared by the two countries.

“This honour belongs to the crores of Indians. It reflects the goodwill of the people of Indonesia and symbolises the historic and deeply cherished ties between India and Indonesia,” the Prime Minister said.

He said the recognition was not merely a personal honour but a celebration of the enduring friendship between two vibrant democracies whose relationship has been shaped by centuries of cultural exchanges, maritime links and shared values.

The conferring of the award came during Modi’s multi-day state visit to Indonesia, the first leg of his three-nation Indo-Pacific tour, which is focused on strengthening India’s engagement with key regional partners under its Act East Policy and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) Vision.

The ceremony was followed by delegation-level talks between the two leaders, during which India and Indonesia reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and agreed to further deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Discussions covered trade and investment, resilient critical supply chains, connectivity, maritime security, defence collaboration, digital cooperation, clean energy and people-to-people exchanges.

Defence cooperation figured prominently in the discussions, with both countries underlining the importance of strengthening maritime security in the Indo-Pacific and enhancing defence-industrial collaboration.

The talks also highlighted the integration of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system as part of expanding strategic cooperation between the two countries.

India and Indonesia have steadily strengthened ties in recent years, driven by shared concerns over regional security, maritime stability and economic resilience.

As maritime neighbours located along some of the world’s busiest sea lanes, the two countries have intensified cooperation in the Indo-Pacific through joint naval exercises, defence exchanges and coordinated efforts to promote a rules-based regional order.

The relationship between the two nations is rooted in centuries of civilisational interaction. Ancient trade links connected the Indian subcontinent with the Indonesian archipelago, while Hindu and Buddhist traditions profoundly influenced Indonesian culture, architecture and literature.

Modern diplomatic relations have likewise remained close since Indonesia’s independence, with both countries playing important roles in the Non-Aligned Movement and later expanding cooperation through forums such as ASEAN, the East Asia Summit and the G20.

In recent years, bilateral engagement has acquired greater strategic significance as India has intensified its Act East Policy while Indonesia has emerged as a key maritime partner in Southeast Asia. The elevation of ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has provided a broader framework for cooperation in defence, security, trade, digital technologies, health, renewable energy and maritime connectivity.

The honour bestowed upon Modi is widely seen as recognition of his efforts to elevate India-Indonesia relations and reinforce cooperation across the Indo-Pacific at a time when both nations are seeking stronger regional partnerships to address evolving geopolitical and economic challenges.

The award ceremony also underscored the personal rapport between Modi and President Prabowo Subianto, whose discussions reflected a shared commitment to expanding bilateral engagement and translating the historical friendship between the two countries into a forward-looking strategic partnership encompassing security, economic growth and regional stability.