Modi, Indonesia's Prabowo agree to boost counter-terrorism, cyber cooperation
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday, 7 July jointly condemned terrorism in all its forms and pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation in preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism, following high-level talks at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. The summit produced a comprehensive India-Indonesia Joint Statement covering counter-terrorism, cyber security, trade, and emerging technologies.
Key Counter-Terrorism Commitments
The two leaders called for a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and reaffirmed their commitment to disrupting terror financing channels. The Joint Statement outlined cooperation across counter-terrorist financing, enforcement of internationally agreed Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) standards, and prevention of the misuse of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.
Both sides also agreed to address terrorist recruitment — including online radicalisation through digital platforms — and to strengthen cooperation on countering radicalisation and Prevention of Violent Extremism (PVE) programmes. Modi and Subianto specifically called for action against globally proscribed terrorists and terror entities listed under the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee.
MoU on Counter-Terrorism and Security Dialogue
The Joint Statement noted the two governments had welcomed the early conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Counter Terrorism, to be signed in the near future. The leaders also welcomed the planned convening of the third India-Indonesia Security Dialogue (IISD) as a dedicated platform to address security concerns comprehensively.
Recognising the linkages between terrorism and transnational organised crime, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation — including through sharing of information and best practices — in accordance with their respective domestic laws and international obligations. Cooperation in bilateral and multilateral forums, including the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), was also reaffirmed.
Cyber Security and Emerging Technologies
Beyond counter-terrorism, both leaders agreed to explore cooperation in the cyber sector, covering policy dialogue, capacity building, digital public infrastructure, financial technology, artificial intelligence, digital forensics, and Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) cooperation. Protection of critical information infrastructure was also flagged as a priority area.
In a post on X, Modi described the discussions as productive, noting that India-Indonesia relations had 'acquired new momentum and greater depth' in recent years. He added that the two nations had agreed to work closely in space, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, Digital Public Infrastructure and other emerging technologies going forward.
Broader Bilateral Agenda
Earlier in the day, talks at Istana Merdeka covered a wide range of sectors including trade, human resource development, agriculture, food security, and health services. As two of the Indo-Pacific's major maritime nations, defence, security, and maritime cooperation also featured prominently in the bilateral agenda.
The summit underscores a broader strategic convergence between the world's largest democracy and Southeast Asia's largest economy at a time when regional security architectures are under increasing pressure. The outcome documents and the forthcoming MoU signing will be closely watched by both ASEAN partners and Western allies tracking India's Indo-Pacific engagement.