Indonesia is important in terms of maritime security: Ansari

Onboard, Nov 06 (ANI): Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari on Thursday said it is pretty self-evident that Indonesia is important for the safeguarding of India's interests in terms of maritime security and strategy. He said that in a range of approximately 100 nautical miles, Indonesia emerges as a significant maritime neighbour, which has three choke points and has to deal with piracy and other forms of extremism. Ansari said that viewed from this perspective and context, it was important for the coast guards and the navies to cooperate more actively and frequently by way of holding joint exercises at regular intervals. Ansari's reiteration of maintaining a stable maritime defence ties with Indonesia came over a month after the Indonesian and Indian navies held a bilateral maritime exercise.