PM Modi to visit Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand in Act East push
Synopsis
Modi's three-nation Indo-Pacific tour — Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand — isn't routine diplomacy. It's a calibrated eastward pivot: a 40-year-first visit to New Zealand capped by a freshly signed FTA, a third annual summit with Australia focused on critical minerals, and a maritime reset with Indonesia at the Malacca Strait's doorstep.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi will visit Indonesia ( 6 July ), Australia ( 10 July ), and New Zealand ( 11 July ) in a three-nation Act East tour.
In Indonesia , Modi will visit Jakarta and the Prambanan Temple complex (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Yogyakarta .
The third India-Australia Annual Summit will be held in Melbourne , covering critical minerals, cyber security, and supply chain resilience.
Modi's New Zealand visit is the first by an Indian PM in 40 years , following the signing of the India-New Zealand FTA .
The tour marks a strategic shift from the western Indian Ocean to the eastern Indo-Pacific, per the MEA .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to undertake a three-nation tour of Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand beginning 6 July, in a diplomatic push that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) describes as a strategic shift toward the eastern Indian Ocean and India's Act East engagements. The tour follows Modi's recent visit to Seychelles and signals a deliberate pivot from the western Indian Ocean Region to the Indo-Pacific arc.
Indonesia: Maritime ties and a UNESCO heritage stop
The first leg begins on 6 July with Modi's arrival in Jakarta, where he will participate in several bilateral engagements. He will also visit the historic city of Yogyakarta and the Prambanan Temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
MEA Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon noted that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed during Modi's 2018 Indonesia visit has become a cornerstone of India's Act East policy and the MAHASAGAR vision. Indonesia's role in the security and stability of the Malacca Strait — a critical sealine of communication for India, Indian Ocean nations, and the global economy — makes it an indispensable partner. The discussions are expected to advance maritime cooperation, defence ties, trade, and people-to-people relations.
Indonesia is also a pivotal member of the ASEAN grouping and has been instrumental in reinforcing the rules-based order in the region, Tandon added.
Australia: Third annual summit in Melbourne
On 10 July, Modi travels to Melbourne for the third India-Australia Annual Summit — the apex mechanism under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement of 2020. The summit is supported by several ministerial dialogue tracks covering defence, foreign affairs, and trade.
Agenda items are expected to span critical minerals, cyber security, supply chain resilience, and emerging technologies — areas that have gained urgency in the context of global supply chain realignments. This is the third convening of the summit mechanism, reflecting the deepening institutional architecture between the two countries.
New Zealand: Historic first visit in 40 years
Modi arrives in New Zealand on 11 July for the third and final leg, where he will hold talks with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Notably, this will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations.
Luxon had visited India in 2025, serving as Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker at the Raisina Dialogue 2025. Tandon described the current trajectory as an 'inflexion' in India-New Zealand ties, one that has accelerated rapidly and culminated in the signing of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The broader strategic picture
Taken together, the three-nation tour reinforces India's Indo-Pacific calculus at a time when maritime security, critical minerals, and supply chain diversification are reshaping regional alignments. The tour spans ASEAN, the Quad architecture through Australia, and the Pacific rim through New Zealand — covering a broad sweep of India's eastern diplomatic priorities in a single week.
All eyes will now be on the specific deliverables — joint statements, MoUs, and FTA timelines — that emerge from each stop.
Point of View
Maritime chokepoints, and tech sovereignty are all in play. The New Zealand FTA — signed at unusual speed, per the MEA's own framing — suggests New Delhi is willing to move faster on trade when geopolitical alignment is clear. The harder question is whether the Australia summit produces binding commitments on critical minerals or remains a framework conversation for the fourth time. Deliverables, not agendas, will determine whether Act East has real momentum.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries will PM Modi visit next week?
PM Modi will visit Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand from 6 July onwards. The three-nation tour is part of India's Act East diplomatic push toward the eastern Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region.
What is the significance of PM Modi's New Zealand visit?
It will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years. The visit follows the signing of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and comes after New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon attended the Raisina Dialogue 2025 as Guest of Honour.
What will be discussed at the India-Australia summit in Melbourne?
The third India-Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne on 10 July will cover critical minerals, cyber security, supply chain resilience, and emerging technologies. It is the apex mechanism under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement of 2020.
Why is Indonesia significant for India's Act East policy?
Indonesia controls key access to the Malacca Strait, one of the most critical maritime chokepoints for India and global trade. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed in 2018 has become a pillar of India's Act East policy and the MAHASAGAR vision, with cooperation spanning maritime security, defence, and trade.
What is India's MAHASAGAR vision?
MAHASAGAR is India's framework for maritime cooperation and security across the Indian Ocean Region. It emphasises rules-based order, connectivity, and strategic partnerships with littoral and Indo-Pacific nations, with Indonesia cited as a key building block of this vision.
