Modi sets off on Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand tour to bolster Act East Policy
Let's connect one trip to three policy names you must know. Prime Minister Modi's July 6 to 11 tour of Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand is built around the Act East Policy, which deepens ties with Southeast Asia and the Pacific, the MAHASAGAR maritime vision, and India's commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Trade, investment, defence and security top the agenda in all three capitals. What this really means is, India is countering China's influence across the Indian Ocean with structured partnerships. Bottom line for the exam, link this tour with Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR, and the Indo-Pacific framework.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi set off on a three-nation visit to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand on Monday noting the tour would further strengthen India’s Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR maritime security vision and its commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
Increasing cooperation in trade, investment, defence and security will top the PM’s agenda in his meetings with the leadership of all three countries during his July 6-11 visit.
“My visit to Indonesia and Australia in the Eastern and Southern Indian Ocean respectively, followed by New Zealand will further strengthen India’s Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR Vision as well as our outlook towards a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Modi said in his departure statement.
The objective of the Act East Policy is to promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationships with countries in the Indo-Pacific region through continuous engagement at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels, thereby providing enhanced connectivity in its broadest sense, including political, economic, cultural and people-to-people relations, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security And Growth Across Regions) is India’s overarching maritime vision for the Indo-Pacific and the Global South launched by the PM.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto upon his arrival at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Monday
Modi noted that the itinerary spanning the Eastern and Southern Indian Ocean and the South Pacific reflected India’s growing engagement with the Indo-Pacific region.
The PM will begin the tour with a visit to Indonesia from July 6-8 at the invitation of President Prabowo Subianto. He noted that India and Indonesia had elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during his 2018 visit, and described this as his first bilateral visit since that upgrade.
The Prime Minister said the visit follows President Prabowo’s state visit to India as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in January 2025 and would deepen the two countries’ multifaceted partnership. Besides official engagements, Modi will interact with the Indian diaspora and visit the Prambanan Temple complex at Yogyakarta with President Prabowo, describing it as a testament to the deep civilisational and cultural links between the two nations.
From Indonesia, Modi will travel to Melbourne at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. He said the visit would strengthen the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with discussions covering defence and security, trade and investment, education, mobility and people-to-people ties.
The Prime Minister said the two sides would also seek to expand cooperation in emerging and critical technologies as well as sports and sports science. He is also scheduled to interact with members of the Indian diaspora, which he described as an important pillar of the bilateral strategic partnership.
The final leg of the tour will take Modi to Auckland at the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. He said the visit would build on the momentum created by Luxon’s visit to India in March 2025, with the leaders expected to discuss ways to further enhance economic, trade and commercial engagement.
Referring to the recently signed India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, Modi said both countries had committed themselves to strengthening bilateral trade and commercial ties. He also said he looked forward to addressing a large gathering of the Indian community in New Zealand, acknowledging its contribution across different sectors.