PM Modi departs on 3-nation tour to Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand
Synopsis
Modi's three-nation sweep — Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand — is not routine diplomacy. It is a deliberate arc across the eastern and southern Indian Ocean, stitching together the MAHASAGAR Vision and Act East Policy into a single strategic statement at a moment when Indo-Pacific alignments are being actively contested.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi departed on 7 July 2025 for a three-nation tour covering Indonesia , Australia , and New Zealand .
The Indonesia visit ( 6–8 July ) is his first bilateral trip there since ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018 .
In Melbourne , talks with PM Anthony Albanese will cover defence, trade, critical technologies, and education.
In Auckland , Modi will meet PM Christopher Luxon to advance a signed Free Trade Agreement and bilateral trade ties.
The tour is framed as a reinforcement of India's Act East Policy and MAHASAGAR Vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, 7 July 2025, departed on a three-nation diplomatic tour covering Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand, stating the visit will reinforce India's Act East Policy, the MAHASAGAR Vision, and its commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The tour marks one of the most geographically expansive outreach efforts of Modi's current term across the eastern and southern Indian Ocean region.
Indonesia Leg: Deepening a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Modi will be in Indonesia from 6 to 8 July at the invitation of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. This is his first bilateral visit to the archipelago since the two nations elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during his 2018 visit. The visit follows President Prabowo's state visit to India, where he served as chief guest at Republic Day celebrations on 26 January 2025.
Modi is scheduled to visit the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta alongside President Prabowo — a symbolically significant stop that underscores the deep civilisational and cultural links between the two countries. He will also engage with the Indian diaspora in Indonesia.
Australia Leg: Defence, Trade, and Emerging Technologies
From Indonesia, Modi travels to Melbourne at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Discussions are expected to advance the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across defence and security, trade and investments, education and mobility, and emerging and critical technologies. Sports and sports science are also on the bilateral agenda.
Modi described the Indian diaspora in Australia as 'an important pillar' of the India-Australia Strategic Partnership and confirmed he will interact with the community during the Melbourne leg of the tour.
New Zealand Leg: Trade Momentum and Free Trade Agreement
The final stop is Auckland, where Modi will meet New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The visit builds on the momentum established during Luxon's trip to India in March 2025. A key focus will be advancing economic, trade, and commercial engagements, underpinned by both nations' commitment to a Free Trade Agreement already signed between the two sides.
Modi also expressed his intent to address a large gathering of the Indian community in New Zealand, acknowledging their contributions to bilateral ties.
Strategic Significance: Act East and MAHASAGAR
The three-nation itinerary — spanning the eastern and southern Indian Ocean — is being framed explicitly within India's Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR Vision, which focuses on maritime security and cooperation across the Indian Ocean region. This comes amid heightened global attention on Indo-Pacific stability, with India seeking to deepen its strategic footprint across a corridor that is increasingly contested.
Notably, all three nations — Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand — are significant partners within broader Indo-Pacific frameworks, and Modi's simultaneous engagement signals a coordinated push to consolidate these ties ahead of anticipated multilateral summits later in 2025.
Point of View
Then Australia, then New Zealand — is not alphabetical convenience; it traces a strategic arc from the eastern to the southern Indian Ocean, the precise geography the MAHASAGAR Vision is designed to anchor. What is worth watching is whether the Prambanan Temple visit and diaspora engagements translate into substantive deliverables, or whether the tour remains symbolically rich but light on binding commitments. The Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand, already signed, offers the clearest near-term test: the quality of its implementation will signal whether India's Indo-Pacific partnerships are deepening in substance or in optics. With China's maritime presence expanding across this corridor, India's ability to convert diplomatic warmth into durable security and trade architecture has rarely mattered more.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries is PM Modi visiting on his 3-nation tour in July 2025?
PM Modi is visiting Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand. The Indonesia leg runs from 6 to 8 July, followed by Melbourne in Australia, and concluding in Auckland, New Zealand.
What is the purpose of PM Modi's visit to Indonesia?
Modi's Indonesia visit is his first bilateral trip since the two nations elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018. He will hold talks with President Prabowo Subianto and visit the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta, reflecting deep civilisational ties.
What will PM Modi discuss with Australian PM Anthony Albanese?
Talks in Melbourne are expected to cover defence and security, trade and investments, education and mobility, and emerging and critical technologies. Sports and sports science are also on the bilateral agenda under the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
What is the MAHASAGAR Vision and how does this tour relate to it?
The MAHASAGAR Vision is India's framework for maritime security and cooperation across the Indian Ocean region. Modi explicitly framed the three-nation tour — spanning the eastern and southern Indian Ocean — as a reinforcement of this vision alongside the Act East Policy.
What is the status of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement?
India and New Zealand have already signed a Free Trade Agreement, and Modi's Auckland visit is aimed at advancing its implementation alongside broader economic and commercial engagement. The visit builds on New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon's trip to India in March 2025.
