Focus: GS-II International Relations
Why in news?
Defence Ministers’ Dialogue between India and Republic of Indonesia was held recently.
Highlights
- The long history of mutually beneficial interactions between India and Indonesia countries with a tradition of close political dialogue, economic and trade linkages as well as cultural and people to people interactions was highlighted.
- The defence cooperation between India and Indonesia has witnessed an upswing in the recent years, which is in consonance with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two sides.
- Both sides agreed to further enhance the bilateral defence cooperation in mutually agreed areas.
- Potential areas of cooperation in the field of defence industries and defence technology were also identified by the two countries.
India–Indonesia relations
- Indian-Indonesian relations stretch back for almost two millennia – stemming from the fact that India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Indonesia along the Andaman Sea – making India and Indonesia neighbours.
- The two countries have significant bilateral trade.
- India regards Indonesia as a key member of ASEAN, and both are member states of the G-20, the E7 (countries), the Non-aligned Movement, and the United Nations.
- The name Indonesia derives from the Latin Indus, meaning “India”, and the Greek nesos, meaning “island” and the name predates the formation of independent Indonesia.
- The Indian Epics — the Ramayana and the Mahabharata — play an important role in Indonesian culture and history.
- Indians also relate closely to Indonesian culture, especially Hindu Balinese culture.
- India and Indonesia officially opened the diplomatic relations in 1950s.
