Australia and Indonesia Forge Historic Defence Pact Amid Asia-Pacific Tensions
The Straits Times
Australia and Indonesia have pledged to enhance their cooperation in the contested Asia-Pacific region, unveiling a “treaty-level” defence agreement on August 20 that Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles described as “historic.”
The treaty, under negotiation since February, will be formally signed in the coming weeks during Marles’ visit to Indonesia. It builds on the existing Australia-Indonesia Defence Co-operation Arrangement, which enables joint security exercises, by allowing military and security personnel from each nation to operate within the other’s territory.
Despite the significance of the agreement, details remain scarce. A joint press conference featuring Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President-elect and Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto allowed no questions, leaving much to speculation. Albanese emphasized the importance of the Australia-Indonesia relationship, highlighting mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. He declared, “There is no more important relationship than the one between our two great nations,” and announced the conclusion of the bilateral treaty-level defence agreement.
Albanese referenced the 2006 Lombok Treaty, which includes Australia’s commitment to not supporting separatism—a nod that has been interpreted as a stance against the West Papua independence movement.
Marles underscored the significance of the new agreement, describing it as “a profoundly significant moment for the national security of both of our countries” that would enhance “interoperability between our defence forces.” He called Australia and Indonesia “the closest of neighbours” with a “shared destiny,” and praised the treaty as a symbol of deep strategic trust between the two nations. “When you consider the journeys of Indonesia and Australia over the decades, it is profoundly historic that we have reached this moment where we find security in each other,” Marles remarked.
As the two nations celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations—Australia being one of the first countries to support Indonesian independence—Prabowo echoed the sentiment, calling the defence pact “a mark of the friendship” between the countries. He acknowledged the ups and downs in their relationship over the years but expressed optimism for continued cooperation, stating, “I am determined to continue this good neighbour relationship.”
The two countries already collaborate on various issues, including security, people trafficking, and drug smuggling. However, on the economic front, Canberra still faces challenges in securing Jakarta’s full allegiance, as highlighted by Prabowo’s visit to China in April and the subsequent visit of Beijing’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Jakarta. During these meetings, discussions on bilateral defence ties, particularly in education, training, joint exercises, and defence-industrial collaboration, took place.
