India, Indonesia Urged to Deepen Indo-Pacific Collaboration at Jakarta Futures Forum
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Indian and Indonesian policymakers, scholars, and diplomats gathered at the Jakarta Futures Forum on Tuesday to call for deeper maritime and strategic cooperation between the two nations, emphasizing their pivotal role in ensuring a resilient and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
Held under the theme "Securing Seas, Strengthening Cooperation", the forum was jointly organized by the Indian Embassy, the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), and Indonesia’s Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The event took place at the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta.
ORF President Samir Saran opened the event by stressing that the India-Indonesia relationship now holds greater potential than India’s ties with traditional partners like the United Kingdom, Japan, or Germany.
“In my view, this bilateral relationship and its contribution to our economies, societies, and industries will be one of the defining indicators of the next decade,” said Saran.
He added that the Indo-Pacific region can only thrive if India, Indonesia, and other strategic partners take an active role in shaping a robust and inclusive regional architecture. The forum, he said, aims to cultivate an open, diverse, and cooperative regional community.
CSIS Executive Director Yose Rizal Damuri echoed these sentiments, noting that this year’s theme resonated strongly with Indonesia’s identity as an archipelagic nation. He highlighted the historical role of Indonesian sailors who explored the vast waters now known as the Indo-Pacific centuries ago, reaching as far as India, Africa, and Madagascar.
Damuri warned that the region is undergoing a transformation from a hub of connectivity into a theater of geopolitical rivalry. “Uncertainty is becoming the new normal in international relations,” he said. “Yet the demand for shared solutions and multilateral cooperation is only growing.”
“Jakarta Futures Forum is not merely a conference,” Damuri added, “but a strategic platform to build trust among regional stakeholders.”
India’s Ambassador to Indonesia Sandeep Chakravorty reinforced India’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Indonesia, particularly in maritime security. He described the sea as Indonesia’s backbone and argued that effective maritime development is essential to realizing the country’s long-term goals.
“I believe that without strong collaboration between India and Indonesia, it will be difficult for either nation to achieve their centennial visions,” said Chakravorty.
He praised ORF and CSIS for facilitating the dialogue and expressed hope that the forum’s recommendations would inform policymaking in both New Delhi and Jakarta, as well as across ASEAN.
“We need to build new coalitions and alliances,” Chakravorty said. “India and ASEAN are among the most promising partners for the future.”
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