Indonesia Eyes Closer Ties With Madagascar, Broadening Indian Ocean and Africa Strategy

Indonesia is signaling a growing interest in strengthening its bilateral ties with Madagascar, a move that could broaden Jakarta's strategic focus beyond Southeast Asia and into the Indian Ocean and Africa. This comes as Madagascar's Foreign Minister Alice N’Diaye made an official working visit to Indonesia, her first to the country. During N’Diaye’s visit to Jakarta on June 3, 2026, both nations announced the establishment of a Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation to deepen their strategic and economic partnership. They also agreed to mutual visa exemptions for holders of service and diplomatic passports, aiming to remove travel barriers. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono highlighted Madagascar's "strategic geographical position" as a gateway to Africa and its rich natural resources, particularly minerals crucial for industry and advanced technology. Both ministers pledged to expand cooperation in areas such as the blue economy, agriculture, renewable energy, fisheries, and tourism. Madagascar also expressed its intention to open its first diplomatic mission in Indonesia, which would be its first in Southeast Asia. This move is expected to facilitate closer engagement with ASEAN member states. Both Indonesia and Madagascar share commonalities, including membership in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Crucially, they share an Austronesian heritage, with early settlers of Madagascar originating from the Indonesian archipelago. This shared identity forms a unique foundation for their relationship. While contemporary bilateral relations have been underdeveloped, N’Diaye's visit underscores the potential benefits for Indonesia. Traditionally focused on ASEAN, Jakarta is increasingly looking to leverage its position as an Indian Ocean nation and its legacy of leadership in the Global South, recalling the historic 1955 Asian African Conference. Madagascar's strategic location near major shipping corridors like the Mozambique Channel and Cape Sainte Marie is of increasing importance, especially in light of disruptions in the Red Sea and the ongoing Iran war, which have forced ships to reroute around Africa's southern tip. This makes maritime security in the region a growing concern for Indonesia. Indonesia also sees potential for deeper defense ties, particularly in maritime security cooperation. This could involve regular bilateral maritime patrols, joint military exercises, and port visits to enhance Madagascar's naval capabilities. Both nations could benefit from addressing shared threats such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, transnational crime, and piracy. Madagascar is a hotspot for IUU fishing, losing an estimated $80 million annually and threatening the livelihoods of coastal communities. Indonesia's commitment to protecting the Indian Ocean as a "joint strategic area," as previously stated by then Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, could translate into practical cooperation. Furthermore, Indonesia could help integrate Madagascar into broader regional frameworks by advocating for it to become an ASEAN dialogue partner and participate in ASEAN-led mechanisms like the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit. With Indonesia projected to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2050, its growing economic and military influence is expected to extend further into Africa and the Indian Ocean. A more substantial relationship with Madagascar represents a key step in this strategic expansion. Information Source: The Diplomat Indonesia