Pressure mounts on Albanese government to explain Russia-Indonesia war plane debacle

Experts are calling on the Prime Minister to explain what his government has done to counter Moscow’s growing ties to Indonesia, one of our closest geographical neighbours.

Moscow’s ambassador to Jakarta has appeared to confirm Russia sought to base long-range war planes on an Indonesian island 1400 kilometres from Darwin, stating the military co-operation between the two nations is “integral”.

Sergei Tolchenov’s statement has put pressure back on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to explain what the government has done to counter Moscow’s growing ties to one of our closest geographical neighbours.

Mr Tolchenov also said Australia’s AUKUS deal was “more likely” a threat to regional security

It came as a top security expert warned Australia is losing “whatever influence we had in our region” while Russia has been allowed to muscle in on Indonesia and “do China a favour”.

Reports Russia had been pushing Indonesia to let them base long range aircraft on one of their islands sparked a brawl between the government and opposition on foreign policy, with Anthony Albanese saying he would look into the issue, while Defence Minister Richard Marles rushed out a statement from his Indonesian counterpart on Tuesday night denying the reports.

Reports Russia had been pushing Indonesia to let them base long range aircraft on one of their islands sparked a brawl between the government and opposition on foreign policy. Picture: AP

Peter Dutton meanwhile went on the attack, asking when the PM found out about the reports, before wrongly claiming they had been “publicly announced” by the Indonesian President.

Mr Albanese jumped on Mr Dutton’s mistake, on Wednesday accusing the Opposition Leader of “verballing” the Indonesian president, while Peter Dutton claimed the PM had damaged our international standing for being seen as “weak.”

However Mr Tolchenov’s statement confirms a deepening military relationship between Moscow and Jakarta.

“Interactions between Russian and Indonesian armed forces and Indonesia were aimed at strengthening the defensive capabilities of both sides, not at any third countries, and posed no security threat to the Asia-Pacific region.” it read.

Mr Tolchenov said that military co-operation between Russia and Indonesia was “an integral part of the intergovernmental relations” between the two countries.

“It is solely of bilateral character and based on a relevant legal framework and the national legislation of each respective country.”

He claimed that regional security was instead “more likely” to be threatened by US troops rotating through Australia and the AUKUS submarine pact.

Mr Tolchenov’s statement confirms a deepening military relationship between Moscow and Jakarta. Picture: AFP

Strategic Analysis Australia Director Peter Jennings yesterday called for the government to dispatch Defence Minister Richard Marles or Foreign Minister Penny Wong to Jakarta for a “serious discussion” about what interests Russia has in Indonesia.

Mr Jennings accused the government of losing influence in our region by failing to engage with our partners.

“Albanese is too fooled by these silly little bilateral encounters he has with world leaders, thinking that somehow this actually reflects genuine co-operation,” Mr Jennings said.

“We are losing whatever influence we had in our region,” he said.

He said that Russia has had an increasing interest in Indonesia, including when the two countries hosted a joint naval exercise last November.

“The Indonesians don’t see Australia as a priority or an interest in any way and the only way we can reverse that is to get stronger through strengthening military capability,” the security and foreign policy analyst said.

Mr Albanese refused to say on Wednesday what his government had done to stop Russia and Indonesia strengthening ties, contrasting foreign policy to his diehard support of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

“Indonesia is a sovereign nation … This isn’t a sort of team thing where it’s like you have to just go for South on every week, and you don’t worry about any other teams and what they’re doing.”

Mr Albanese accused Mr Dutton of “extraordinary overreach” and dialling conflict “up to 11 at every opportunity”.

Mr Dutton said that comment was not reckless, saying he was referencing “a credible military website … that talked about government sources and the Prabowo government sources”.

Originally published as Pressure mounts on Albanese government to explain Russia-Indonesia war plane debacle