Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, 6 July received an enthusiastic welcome from members of the Indian community at his hotel in Jakarta, as he began a three-day State Visit to Indonesia — his first bilateral visit to the country since ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018. Crowds chanted 'Modi Modi' as the Prime Minister greeted diaspora members gathered at the hotel.

Presidential Welcome at the Airport

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, along with four ministers, personally received Prime Minister Modi at the airport in Jakarta, according to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Fighter jets from the Indonesian Air Force escorted the Indian Prime Minister's aircraft from the moment it entered Indonesian airspace — a rare ceremonial honour.

Modi described the gesture as deeply moving. 'I was deeply touched by the warmth of President Prabowo Subianto, who personally welcomed me at the airport,' he said in a post on X.

Cultural Performances and Ramayana Connection

The Prime Minister witnessed cultural performances both at the airport and at his hotel, applauding artists who performed in his honour. Among the highlights was a shadow puppetry performance celebrating the Ramayana — a tradition that underscores the deep civilisational ties between India and Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority nation and home to one of the oldest Ramayana performance traditions outside the Indian subcontinent.

Modi is also scheduled to visit the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta alongside President Subianto — a Hindu temple compound dating to the 9th century that stands as a shared cultural landmark.

What Modi Said About the Visit

In his departure statement, Modi outlined the significance of the trip. 'India and Indonesia elevated bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during my first visit to Indonesia in 2018. This will be my first bilateral visit after the elevation of our bilateral ties and follows the state visit of President Prabowo, who was the chief guest at our Republic Day celebrations on 26 January 2025,' he said.

He added that the two nations share 'strong civilisational and people-to-people ties' and expressed confidence that the visit would 'further deepen all aspects of our multifaceted partnership across various sectors.'

Broader Tour: Australia and New Zealand Next

Indonesia is the first stop on Prime Minister Modi's three-nation tour. He is scheduled to travel to Australia and New Zealand later in the week. The Jakarta leg, running from 6 to 8 July, is expected to produce bilateral agreements and fresh momentum on trade, defence, and connectivity — areas that have gained urgency as both nations navigate a shifting Indo-Pacific order.

Bilateral discussions between Modi and President Subianto are expected to chart a course for deeper engagement across multiple sectors, with the Prambanan visit adding a layer of cultural diplomacy to what is otherwise a substantive strategic agenda.