Indian Prime Minister Visits Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Indonesia on Monday and Australia on Wednesday during a six-day Asia-Pacific trip that ends in New Zealand. The schedule follows a summit Modi hosted in New Delhi last week for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Modi signed a missile sales agreement with Indonesia on Tuesday. India has previously sold missile packages to the Philippines and Vietnam. The agreement expands New Delhi’s defense ties in Southeast Asia. Modi’s meetings with Australia and Japan focus on cooperation within the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, which also includes the United States.

The group has not held a leaders’ summit in nearly two years.

India has eased tensions with China since a 2020 border clash but continues to view Beijing as its primary strategic concern. New Delhi’s partnerships with Australia and Japan have gained importance amid shifting U.S. policy in the Indo-Pacific. New Zealand forms part of India’s effort to increase influence among Pacific island nations, driven in part by competition over critical minerals.