Description: Indonesia has announced the acquisition of the BrahMos Missiles from India with the goal of bolstering its defense, security and deterrence capabilities in the midst of raised Chinese influence in the Indo – Pacific. The transaction marks the second most recent counter Chinese move by regional states since the Philippines acquired the same missiles in 2022 and Vietnam being the next likely candidate. The acquisition came at the precipice of Indonesia’s inclusion in the BRICS bloc while India aimed to become the regional arms trade leader.
Impact: With heightened tensions in the Indo – Pacific region and China assuming the leading geopolitical power grab, India through proxies such as Indonesia, Vietnam or the Philippines would aim to topple Chinese regional and global influence. The transaction merited further regional cooperation between countries which aimed to undermine Chinese dominance in recent years. With elevated threat levels globally, regional security especially in the Indo – Pacific would determine the mid – term geopolitical landscape in the region.