JAKARTA, Indonesia. India and Indonesia on May 30 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of Defence.

The MoUs, nine in toto including Defence, Space, Science & Technology, Railways, Pharma, Policy Planning & Research, signed between the two countries are routed under Government to Government programme.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Indonesian counterpart were the signatories of the defence deal between both the countries.

Under the MoU, there will be regular bilateral dialogue and consultation on strategic defence and military issues of common interest.

The India-Indonesia defence deal also prescribes for exchange of strategic information, military education, training and exercise, cooperation among the Armed Forces including Army, Navy, Air Force and Aerospace, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, peace-keeping and medical services among others.

It may be noted here that Prime Minister Modi is on three-nation tour of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore from May 29 to June 2.

He was in Indonesia in the first leg of his visit to the three countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The visit is aimed at bolstering Government of India’s Act East Policy.