International Relations

PM Modi begins a three-nation tour to strengthen the Act East Policy

By TestNeeti Editorial TeamPublished Monday, 6 July 2026 2 min readSource: thehindu.comArticle 19 of 26

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his visit to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand would further strengthen India's Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR Vision and its commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. In his departure statement ahead of the three-nation tour from July 6-11, Modi said the visit would build on strong momentum in bilateral ties. MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions. He began the tour in Indonesia from July 6-8 at the invitation of President Prabowo Subianto, noting India and Indonesia elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during his first visit in 2018. He would then travel to Melbourne at the invitation of Australian PM Anthony Albanese, and finally to Auckland at the invitation of New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon, noting India and New Zealand had committed to a Free Trade Agreement.

Key Facts & Details

9 points

1
PM Narendra Modi's three-nation tour from July 6-11 covers Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.
2
The visit aims to strengthen India's Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR Vision and a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
3
MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions.
4
Modi began in Indonesia (July 6-8) at the invitation of President Prabowo Subianto, whose state visit was Republic Day 2025's chief guest.
5
He would visit Melbourne at PM Anthony Albanese's invitation and Auckland at NZ PM Christopher Luxon's invitation.
6
India and Indonesia elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Modi's first visit in 2018.

Deep Dive

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Modi planned to visit the Prambanan Temple complex at Yogyakarta with President Prabowo, highlighting civilisational ties.
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In Australia, talks with Albanese were to cover defence and security, trade and investment, education, mobility and emerging technologies.
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India and New Zealand had committed to strengthening trade with the signing of a Free Trade Agreement, following Luxon's March 2025 India visit.

Exam Focus

Examiners may ask for the full form of MAHASAGAR, the countries on Modi's tour, or the leaders who invited him.

Exam Relevance & Angle

The tour advances India's Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR Vision, deepening strategic and economic ties across the Indo-Pacific. Engagement with Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, including a proposed India-NZ Free Trade Agreement, shapes India's regional security posture and trade diplomacy, key themes for international relations.

Target Exams

UPSC CSESSC CGLIBPS POSBI PO

Background & Context

India's Act East Policy, an evolution of the earlier Look East Policy, seeks deeper political, economic and strategic engagement with Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is the highest tier of India's bilateral relationships, covering defence, trade, technology and people-to-people ties. MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions) is India's maritime and regional security vision, building on the earlier SAGAR doctrine. High-level state visits and free trade agreements are core instruments through which such partnerships are advanced.