Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed Jakarta on Wednesday, 8 July with a rare aerial honour guard — five Indonesian Air Force fighter jets flanking his aircraft through Indonesian airspace — as he concluded a three-day state visit to Indonesia and headed to Melbourne for the next leg of his three-country tour. The escort, captured in visuals from onboard the aircraft, underscored the symbolic weight both nations are placing on their bilateral relationship.

A Rare Farewell in the Skies

The fighter jet escort was not a one-off gesture. A similar formation had accompanied the Prime Minister's aircraft when it first entered Indonesian airspace on Monday, marking both his arrival and departure with military honours. Such aerial escorts are reserved for heads of state and are considered among the highest diplomatic courtesies a host nation can extend.

On the ground, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto personally saw off Prime Minister Modi at the airport — an uncommon gesture that protocol watchers noted as a mark of exceptional personal warmth. The two leaders shared a hug before Modi boarded his aircraft bound for Australia.

What Modi Said About the Visit

In a statement posted on X, Prime Minister Modi described the visit as a milestone for bilateral ties. 'As I conclude my visit to Indonesia, I leave with immense satisfaction at the outcomes achieved as far as the future of our partnership is concerned. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Indonesia and to President Prabowo Subianto for his exceptional warmth and personal commitment to taking India-Indonesia relations to new heights,' Modi wrote.

He added: 'This visit has opened new avenues for cooperation in defence and security, maritime collaboration, critical and emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, digital innovation and capacity building.'

Key Outcomes of the State Visit

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the visit yielded significant outcomes across priority areas. In his own post on X, Jaiswal wrote: 'Terima kasih, Indonesia! PM Narendra Modi concludes his State Visit to Indonesia and embarks for Melbourne for the second leg of his three-country tour. In a special gesture of friendship, PM was seen off by President Prabowo Subianto at the airport. The visit to Indonesia yielded significant outcomes across key areas of cooperation, placing the India-Indonesia partnership on an even stronger footing and setting an ambitious agenda for the future.'

Areas of cooperation highlighted include defence and security, maritime collaboration, critical and emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and capacity building — a broad sweep that reflects Indonesia's growing importance as a strategic partner in India's Indo-Pacific calculus.

Context: India's Indo-Pacific Push

The Indonesia stop is part of a broader three-country tour, with Australia as the next destination. This comes amid India's deepening engagement with Southeast Asian and Pacific nations, as New Delhi seeks to strengthen its strategic footprint beyond South Asia. Indonesia, as the world's largest archipelagic nation and a major ASEAN voice, occupies a central position in that outreach. Notably, President Subianto — a former military general — brings a strong defence orientation to the bilateral relationship, which may accelerate the security and maritime cooperation agenda both sides have now formally endorsed.

What Comes Next

Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold engagements in Melbourne as part of the second leg of his tour. The specific outcomes of the Indonesia visit — including any agreements, memoranda of understanding, or joint statements — are expected to be detailed in full by the MEA in the coming days.