NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Indonesia as "a major strategic breakthrough" after India and Indonesia agreed to jointly develop the strategically located Sabang Port.
The party said the agreement marks a significant shift in India's maritime strategy and accused previous Congress-led governments of failing to capitalise on the country's strategic geographical advantages.
BJP IT department head Amit Malviya, in a detailed post on X, said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Indonesia has delivered a major strategic breakthrough. India and Indonesia will jointly develop Sabang Port in Aceh, near the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest and most consequential maritime chokepoints. Together with the Great Nicobar Transshipment Port, this will significantly strengthen India's strategic footprint in the Indo-Pacific and create powerful operational synergies across the region."
Highlighting the strategic importance of the Strait of Malacca, Malviya further said, "The Strait of Malacca carries nearly one-third of global trade and serves as the principal maritime artery for East Asia, including the overwhelming majority of China's energy imports and commercial shipping. A credible presence around this sea lane translates into enormous geopolitical and economic leverage."
Taking a swipe at successive Congress-led governments, he alleged, "Despite India's unmatched geographical advantage through the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, successive Congress governments failed to capitalise on this strategic opportunity. Instead of investing in world-class maritime infrastructure, strengthening India's position around the Malacca Strait and leveraging geography into national power, decades were lost to strategic indecision and neglect."
Referring to what he described as the success of Prime Minister Modi's foreign engagements, Malviya asserted, "Today, India is charting a different course. From the Great Nicobar mega transshipment project and the strengthening of the Andaman & Nicobar Command, to SAGAR and now the joint development of Sabang Port with Indonesia, Prime Minister Modi has transformed India's maritime outlook from passive observation to proactive leadership."
He further added, "For too long, India's greatest strategic advantage lay underutilised. Today, it is being converted into a decisive geopolitical asset. Geography gave India an advantage. Prime Minister Modi is turning it into strategic power."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of his visit and said he was confident it would further strengthen the India-Indonesia partnership. In a post on X, he remarked, "This visit has opened new avenues for cooperation in defence and security, maritime collaboration, critical and emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, digital revolution and capacity building."
After inaugurating the UNESCO World Heritage Prambanan Temple Compound Restoration and Conservation Project in Indonesia, the Prime Minister said, "This initiative is a shining example of the enduring civilisational bonds between India and Indonesia, rooted in a shared heritage that has connected our people for centuries."
He also said, "India is privileged to partner with Indonesia in this endeavour. As nations with deep cultural connections, India and Indonesia will continue to work together to celebrate our shared past while building an even stronger future."