India and Indonesia advanced defense ties as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta and signed agreements for Indonesia to acquire BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Bloomberg reported on July 7. India and Indonesia also announced a joint venture between Steel Authority of India Ltd. and Krakatau Steel, agreements on mining technology and maritime security, and plans to accelerate negotiations on a preferential trade agreement.

The agreements include a contract between Indonesia's defense ministry and BrahMos Aerospace for BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, as well as a cooperation pact between Bharat Dynamics Ltd. and Indonesian defense company Republikorp on air-to-air missile systems. Indonesia is the third Southeast Asian country to purchase BrahMos after Vietnam and the Philippines. Modi is in Jakarta for the first stop on his three-country tour of Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.