What happened
On October 8, 2025, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita attended the 80th anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence and Armed Forces Day in New Delhi. He extended warm greetings to the Indonesian government and people, highlighting the strong civilizational ties and the robust Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Indonesia.
Why it matters to India
Speaking on the occasion, MoS Margherita noted that India and Indonesia enjoy deep-rooted historical and cultural linkages and expressed eagerness for closer cooperation in bilateral, regional, and multilateral fora. Earlier this year, Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto visited India, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of India-Indonesia diplomatic relations, reaffirming the enduring friendship. Both leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation—including political, defence, security, maritime, economic, health, digital, energy, blue economy, education, and cultural ties—and underscored the importance of regular dialogues and exchanges through platforms such as the India-Indonesia Security Dialogue, Consular Dialogue, and Policy Planning Dialogue.