India’s looming BrahMos missile deal with Indonesia challenges US-China binary

India and Indonesia are close to finalising a US$450 million sale of BrahMos missiles, in a deal analysts say could give Southeast Asia a long-sought alternative to dependence on the US or China.

The deal, discussed last Thursday during the third India–Indonesia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue co-chaired by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, would make Indonesia only the second Southeast Asian country after the Philippines to acquire the missile system.

Negotiations between New Delhi and Jakarta have been completed, with only Moscow’s formal approval pending – a necessary step given Russia’s 49.5 per cent stake in the BrahMos joint venture.

BrahMos Aerospace is co-owned by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia. India holds the controlling 50.5 per cent share.

Analysts described the missile deal as a sign of India’s growing defence export ambitions.

“This is not just another arms contract,” said Gaurav Kumar, a researcher at the United Service Institution of India, a defence think tank.