Strengthening Vietnam - Indonesia Ties
	Friendship Order Presented to Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam

In the article “Vietnam-Indonesia Cherish Seven Decades of Bilateral Relations,” published in the Policy Brief Special Edition, author Vijay Sakhuja, Professor of Geopolitics and International Relations and former Director of the National Maritime Foundation of India, offers in-depth assessments of the more than 70-year journey of Vietnam-Indonesia relations, regarding them as one of the most exemplary bilateral relationships with the greatest strategic depth in Southeast Asia.

General Secretary To Lam and President of the Republic of Indonesia, Chairman of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) Prabowo Subianto, announce the elevation of Vietnam-Indonesia relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (Jakarta, March 10, 2025). (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

According to the article, over more than seven decades of formation and development, Vietnam-Indonesia relations have transcended the bounds of ordinary bilateral cooperation to become an important pillar of the regional architecture.

Laid in the 1950s, in a context where both nations emerged from struggles for independence, the relationship was forged by political trust, shared strategic interests, and a common vision for peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region.

Vietnam and Indonesia share many rare points of convergence in modern history. Both are countries that gained independence through prolonged struggles, shaping a strong sense of national self-reliance and determination to safeguard sovereignty.

According to Professor Sakhuja, it is precisely these similarities in history and aspirations that have fostered deep mutual understanding between the two countries, laying the groundwork for the establishment of official diplomatic relations on December 30, 1955.

The friendship and close bond between President Ho Chi Minh and President Sukarno are regarded as the earliest symbol of Vietnam-Indonesia relations. This political legacy has been inherited and carried forward by successive generations of leaders, helping bilateral ties remain stable even during periods of major regional and global turbulence.

From a traditional friendship, the two countries have gradually upgraded their relationship, reaching the milestone of a Strategic Partnership in 2013, and notably a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2025, during General Secretary To Lam’s visit to Indonesia. In Professor Sakhuja’s assessment, this represents a “historic turning point,” reflecting the highest level of political trust between the two nations.

From a geopolitical perspective, Vietnam and Indonesia both occupy key positions in the Indo-Pacific space. Vietnam lies along vital maritime routes and supply chains linking Northeast Asia with mainland Southeast Asia, while Indonesia - the world’s largest archipelagic state - controls strategic sea lanes such as the Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok Straits.

This complementarity in strategic geography creates favorable conditions for the two countries to become natural partners in promoting regional economic connectivity. Professor Sakhuja observes that the economy is emerging as the most dynamic pillar of bilateral relations.

Indonesia is currently Vietnam’s second-largest trading partner within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), while Vietnam is Indonesia’s fourth-largest trading partner. The two sides have set a target to raise bilateral trade turnover to USD 18 billion by 2028.

Notably, Professor Sakhuja’s article emphasizes the role of strategic investment cooperation, highlighted by VinFast’s USD 1.2 billion investment plan to build an electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Indonesia.

This project is not only economically significant but is also seen as a symbol of Vietnam’s rise in green technology and innovation, while aligning with Indonesia’s orientation toward energy transition and sustainable development.

As a maritime security expert, Professor Sakhuja pays particular attention to defense and security cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia. The two countries share a vision of a free, open Indo-Pacific region based on international law, with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) regarded as a core legal foundation.

The successful conclusion of negotiations on the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between the two countries is assessed as clear evidence of their commitment to resolving sensitive issues through peaceful means, contributing positively to the maintenance of stability and order in the East Sea.

At a broader level, Vietnam and Indonesia are both core members of ASEAN, sharing responsibility for maintaining internal unity and ASEAN centrality amid intensifying strategic competition among major powers.

According to Professor Sakhuja, close coordination between Hanoi and Jakarta is of key significance in shaping a common Southeast Asian voice at regional and global forums.

The author concludes that after 70 years of companionship, Vietnam and Indonesia are entering a new stage in the development of their bilateral relationship. Going beyond cooperation between two nations, this relationship also reflects the increasingly prominent role of Vietnam and Indonesia as responsible “middle powers,” jointly contributing to shaping the region’s security and economic architecture.

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