The extension of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and its equivalent of Indonesia, the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency Badan Keamanan Laut Republik Indonesia (BAKAMLA) is an illustrious example of the maritime linkages between both the nations in the Indo-Pacific region.
The contract extension, which will cover the following three years, sees both countries highlight the necessity to safeguard their joint maritime interests. Focusing on strengthening security ties, fighting transnational crimes, and improving disaster response systems, the collaboration highlights the strategic significance of Indo-Indonesian relations to preserve regional water stability. The renewal comes when maritime security challenges are evolving, and cooperation between neighbouring coastal states is required.
Key players in the Indo-Pacific, India and Indonesia, have long understood that they must work together to safeguard sea lanes essential for world trade and regional stability. As the Indo-Pacific region undergoes increasing geopolitical dynamics, the necessity for reliable security postures has never been higher, and the extension of this STM MoU enshrines the two nations’ efforts to counter linear maritime-based contingencies.’ In addition, it underscores their mutual assurance to protect international maritime laws and freedom of navigation in key maritime lines like Malacca Strait or the Andaman Sea.
Historical Context
India and Indonesia have had shared maritime historical traditions spanning centuries together when trade prospered via the Indian Ocean somewhere as far as nautical (marine) cultural exchanges. Shared heritage, connectivity and common interests in secure sea lanes have gauged bilateral ties. However, the pointers of the bilateral relationship have recently been from cultural and economic connectivity to a more strategic relationship, especially in maritime security.
India and Indonesia have prioritised strengthening their naval and coast guard cooperation, acknowledging the threats from piracy, illegal fishing, smuggling and human trafficking. Given this mutual cognisance, the MoU was first signed between the ICG and BAKAMLA in 2020 to enhance the mutually structured cooperation on maritime safety and security.
Indeed, the need for maritime cooperation has never been more pressing; both countries face nontraditional maritime challenges, including IUU fishing, environmental degradation, and the threat of maritime terrorism. Amid growing concerns over critical sea lane security, India and Indonesia have held joint exercises, information sharing and coordinated patrols to augment their response mechanisms.
Renewing that MoU in 2024 will reaffirm their commitment to these goals and reflect past successes as a strong foundation to build on a platform for improvement. They find themselves along particular shipping routes of geostrategic significance, which makes them all the more actual stakeholders in a stable and rules-based maritime order.
Key Objectives of the Renewed MoU
The renewed MoUs intend to leverage the achievements accomplished under the last agreement with a focus on the areas below:
- Maritime Security: Consolidating Coordination to Address Piracy, Smuggling, Human Trafficking, and other illicit acts in the common maritime domain.
- Joint Search and Rescue Operations: Two nations can establish mechanisms to guarantee immediate responses to maritime emergencies, saving the lives of sailors and coastal populations.
- An Eye towards Environmental Protection: A joint response to marine pollution incidents, demonstrating the shared commitment to a healthy marine ecosystem.
- Capability Building: This will allow us to share best practices, training and expertise to enhance the capacities of the two coastguards.
Renewal of the MoU: A Strategic Imperative
The renewal of this MoU is of significant strategic importance for both countries:
- Strengthening Geopolitical Equilibrium: The two nations can help solidify synergy over a rules-based maritime order that strengthens maritime stability in the region within growing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
- Economic Interests: Both nations depend heavily on maritime trade routes, so secure and safe sea lanes are crucial to both nations’ economic prosperity.
- Environmental Stewardship: Joint marine pollution response efforts reflect a shared commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection.
Recent Collaborations
Several significant joint initiatives have been launched ahead of the MoU renewal:
- Deployment of ICG Sujay: In September 2024, the Sujay of Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessel visited Bali, Indonesia, as part of its deployment to East Asia. The visit included professional engagements with BAKAMLA covering oil pollution response, maritime search and rescue, and law enforcement. Joint activities included yoga sessions, cross-deck training and an environmental protection walkathon, all of which underscored the diverse scope of the cooperation.
- Coordinated Patrols: The 8th India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) was undertaken in the Andaman Sea and Straits of Malacca from June 13 to 24, 2022. These patrols have been essential in enhancing both navies’ shared understanding and interoperability to address common threats, such as illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and maritime terrorism.
Increasing Defence and Maritime Cooperation
In addition to coast guard cooperation, India and Indonesia have also been working closely in the defence and maritime domains:
- Security Cooperation: The 7th meeting of the India-Indonesia Joint Defence Cooperation Committee, held in May 2024, decided to enhance cooperation in the Defence industries and examined defence production collaboration in maritime security and multilateral engagements. That includes possible joint ventures in defence manufacturing and sharing know-how.
- High-Level Visits: Indonesian Navy Chief Admiral Muhammad Ali’s visit to India in January 2025 cemented naval ties between the two nations. Talks during the visit centred around operational cooperation, joint exercises, and how they could tackle common maritime challenges.
Future Prospects and Challenges
The renewed MoU lays a strong foundation for ongoing cooperation, but success will be contingent on several factors:
- International Collaboration on Maritime Security: Further enhancing synergy between countries, such as joint naval exercises, intelligence sharing, and capacity building, will be essential in countering the threats.
- Financial Precedence: countries must have enough resources and appropriate funding to establish collaborative projects, training programs, and technology upgrades.
- Regional Dynamics: The effectiveness of this bilateral cooperation will also heavily depend upon the broader geopolitical context of the Indo-Pacific, which is already being influenced by the actions of other regional powers.
The signing of this MoU between the Indian Coast Guard and BAKAMLA reconciles the faith in such cooperation to a long-term impact in an increasingly changing maritime security environment in the Indo-Pacific. It’s a three-year extension of the two nations’ prior membership. It sends a clear signal of joint determination to tackle shared security challenges and to shoulder responsibility for ensuring stability at sea.
Such collaboration advances the India–Indonesia bilateral agenda and the regional and global agenda of securing the safety of international shipping lines. Against more complex maritime security challenges, we must accelerate joint exercises and intelligence-sharing mechanisms that have emerged relatively slowly. Both coastguards seek to develop their sea-keeping strategy to counter illicit activities on the seas against a backdrop of sustainable resource management in maritime areas through continued dialogue and engagement.
