Guwahati, July 9 -- India and Indonesia have agreed to jointly develop the strategically located Sabang Port, a move expected to significantly strengthen India's maritime presence in the eastern Indian Ocean and reinforce its Indo-Pacific strategy.

The agreement was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Indonesia, where both countries signed a series of strategic agreements covering defence, maritime cooperation, critical minerals, digital technology and trade. Among them, the Sabang Port project has emerged as one of the most geopolitically significant initiatives.

Situated on Indonesia's Weh Island in Aceh province, Sabang lies at the northern entrance of the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest shipping la...