Modi-Prabowo Friendship: ‘I Copied Modi’s Policies,’ Says Indonesia’s President

Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto gave the Modi-Prabowo friendship a notably personal turn when he said he admired Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and had studied his policies. Modi’s answer was equally warm: friendship and mutual respect, he said, are not things anyone can claim as intellectual property.

The exchange, reported on July 8, 2026, was brief but politically resonant because it placed public admiration—not merely formal diplomacy—at the centre of the India-Indonesia relationship.

What Prabowo said at the Jakarta community event

Speaking at a community event in Jakarta, Prabowo praised Modi’s leadership and said he had examined the Indian prime minister’s policies. The Indonesian president’s remark—“I copied Modi’s policies”—was a blunt expression of admiration rather than a detailed announcement of a particular Indonesian policy programme.

That distinction matters. The available account does not identify which policies Prabowo had in mind, how they were studied, or whether a specific initiative had been adopted. What it clearly captures is Prabowo’s willingness to publicly credit Modi as a leader he follows closely.

PM Modi’s reply: no copyright on friendship

Modi responded to Prabowo’s comments in Parliament, choosing a line that moved the conversation beyond policy borrowing. “No one can hold a copyright over this love, this affection, this friendship, or this sense of mutual respect,” he said.

The wording did two things at once. It accepted Prabowo’s praise with good humour, while framing the relationship as one built on reciprocal regard rather than one country simply imitating another. It was a diplomatic response, but one delivered in language designed to sound human rather than procedural.

Why the Modi-Prabowo friendship message matters

Leaders often speak about partnerships through agreements, meetings and official statements. This exchange stood out because both sides spoke in terms of admiration, affection and mutual respect.

For India and Indonesia, that kind of public language can help give political warmth to a relationship that is usually discussed through the broader lens of regional cooperation. Prabowo’s praise also put Modi’s leadership style directly into the conversation, while Modi’s reply made clear that he viewed the sentiment as shared.

What the remarks do—and do not—tell us

A public signal of respect

Prabowo’s comments are a direct public endorsement of Modi’s leadership. Modi’s parliamentary response, in turn, signals that New Delhi sees value in highlighting the personal rapport between the two leaders.

Not a detailed policy blueprint

It would be premature to treat the phrase “I copied Modi’s policies” as proof of a defined policy transfer. No individual policy, timeline or implementation detail was specified in the account. The strongest conclusion is the simplest one: Prabowo said he had studied Modi’s approach and expressed admiration for it.

Key Takeaways

• Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto praised PM Modi at a community event in Jakarta.
• Prabowo said he had studied Modi’s approach and declared, “I copied Modi’s policies.”
• Modi replied in Parliament that there is “no copyright” on friendship, affection and mutual respect.
• The exchange highlighted a publicly expressed sense of Modi-Prabowo friendship alongside formal India-Indonesia ties.

What to watch next

The lasting significance of the exchange will depend on what follows the friendly rhetoric. For now, the remarks offer a clear snapshot of how both leaders want the relationship to be understood: as a partnership marked by respect, open appreciation and a readiness to learn from each other.