Correspondent
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to undertake a six-day, three-nation visit to Indonesia (6–9 July), Australia (9–10 July), and New Zealand (10–11 July) as part of India’s broader Act East and Indo-Pacific engagement, Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.
The state visit followed by the state visit to Western Indian Ocean region, Mauritius and Schyelles, will centre on deepening partnerships in critical minerals, trade and investment, defence and security cooperation, digital public infrastructure, and people-to-people ties, with a particular emphasis on mobility for high-skilled professionals rather than broader migration debates, MEA said .
In a briefing comprising Assisting Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon, Additional Secretary (South) Prashant Agrawal, Vishwesh Negi, Joint Secretary (Oceania and Indo-Pacific) and Randhir Jaiswal, Spokesperson of the MEA, the MEA has framed the visit as a natural extension of India’s Act East Policy and its Indo-Pacific vision, with a shift in focus toward the “eastern maritime zones of the Indian Ocean” and deeper engagement with ASEAN and Pacific partners. The timing is significant: it follows Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to India as Republic Day 2025 guest of honour, the conclusion of India–New Zealand FTA negotiations in early 2026, and ongoing efforts to upgrade the ASEAN–India Free Trade Agreement.
Key objectives include:
Economic resilience and supply-chain diversification: Securing access to critical minerals (notably nickel in Indonesia and uranium in Australia) and advancing joint ventures in processing and refining to reduce dependency on single-source suppliers.
Defence and maritime security cooperation: Advancing defence manufacturing partnerships, potential BrahMos missile cooperation with Indonesia, and strengthening maritime domain awareness and security architecture in the Indo-Pacific.
Trade and investment expansion: Upgrading ASEAN–India FTA, advancing Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) talks with Australia, and implementing the recently signed India–New Zealand FTA.
Mobility for professionals: Facilitating easier movement of high-skilled Indian workers, CEOs, and technical experts as part of trade agreements and bilateral arrangements, distinct from broader migration debates.
Diaspora engagement: Strengthening ties with sizeable Indian communities in all three countries—approximately 1.4 lakh in Indonesia, 9.7 lakh in Australia, and 3 lakh in New Zealand.
Indonesia Leg: Critical Minerals, Defence, and Cultural Diplomacy
Bilateral Summit and Key Engagements
PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta and visit the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where India and Indonesia will collaborate on conservation efforts. The temple visit underscores the cultural and civilisational dimensions of the partnership, reinforcing shared Buddhist–Hindu heritage.
Critical Minerals and Economic Cooperation
Indonesia is India’s largest ASEAN trading partner and holds vast nickel reserves essential for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and clean energy technologies. India imports over 80% of its ferronickel from Indonesia and is exploring joint ventures with Indonesian firms to establish processing factories for critical minerals, particularly nickel, to support its clean energy transition and industrial growth.
Sources indicate that several MoUs are expected to be signed during the visit, covering critical minerals and natural resources, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, space, and digital development. The focus on downstream sectors, such as refining and battery manufacturing aligns with Indonesia’s own downstreaming policy and India’s need for secure, diversified supply chains.
Defence and Security Cooperation
Defence cooperation remains a key pillar of the India–Indonesia relationship, though MEA officials have described ongoing discussions, including potential additional BrahMos missile battery supplies, as being at a “preparatory stage.” Indonesia has reportedly sought an additional BrahMos battery beyond the one agreed in March 2026, reflecting growing interest in Indian defence manufacturing.
The MEA has emphasised that defence cooperation is an important aspect of the bilateral relationship but has refrained from providing details ahead of the visit, noting that discussions are still in preparatory phases. Other areas of security cooperation include maritime security, cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, and de-radicalisation.
Digital and Technological Collaboration
India and Indonesia have expressed commitment to advancing cooperation in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), digital B2B partnerships, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies such as AI and IoT. An MoU on cooperation in digital development signed during President Prabowo’s 2025 visit is expected to be further operationalised during this visit.
Australia Leg: CECA, Uranium, and Strategic Partnership
Third India–Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne
PM Modi will participate in the third India–Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne, where he is also expected to meet leaders from top Australian companies and visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground, symbolising the deepening people-to-people and cultural ties. The summit will review progress across the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and advance negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
Critical Minerals and Uranium Supply
Critical minerals, cybersecurity, supply chain resilience, and emerging technologies are among the key agenda items for the summit. A significant focus is the bilateral nuclear supply agreement, which has not been implemented in recent years but is now the subject of “substantive, forward-looking conversations.”
MEA Joint Secretary (Oceania) Vishwesh Negi on Friday expressed hope that ongoing discussions would lead to a “logical conclusion,” potentially enabling Australian uranium supplies to support India’s civil nuclear energy programme. This would diversify India’s uranium import sources and strengthen energy security.
Trade and Investment
India is one of Australia’s largest trading partners, and the CECA negotiations aim to enhance market access, reduce non-tariff barriers, and facilitate mobility for professionals. The MEA has highlighted that mobility provisions are integral to trade agreements and are distinct from broader migration debates.
Defence and Security
Defence cooperation remains a cornerstone of the India–Australia relationship, with ongoing collaboration in maritime security, joint exercises, and defence manufacturing. The MEA has noted that defence cooperation with Australia remains within the existing framework, without signalling major new announcements at this stage
New Zealand Leg: Historic Visit, FTA Implementation, and Mobility
First PM Visit in 40 Years
PM Modi’s visit to New Zealand marks the first by an Indian Prime Minister in four decades, underscoring the growing momentum in bilateral ties. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has described the visit as “historic” and a celebration of a “winning partnership.”
Free Trade Agreement and Mobility Arrangements
The visit comes in the wake of the India–New Zealand FTA signed in April 2026, which aims to boost mutual trade and investment, enhance supply chain integration, and improve market access. Negotiations on an arrangement facilitating the mobility of professionals and skilled workers were also launched during PM Luxon’s visit to India in March 2025.
MEA Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon has clarified that India’s focus is on mobility for high-skilled professionals, not broader migration, and that this distinction was addressed during FTA negotiations. He noted that hassles faced by technical experts can create de facto non-tariff barriers, and improving mobility prospects is a priority for the Indian government.
Broad-Based Cooperation
Discussions between the leaders will cover trade and investment, maritime security, education, technology, tourism, sport, and global issues. Five agreements were signed during PM Luxon’s 2025 visit, covering defence, education, sports, horticulture, and forestry, laying the groundwork for further institutionalisation of the partnership.
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