Australia and Indonesia sign historic defence pact spelling out rules of engagement in regional conflict
Australia and Indonesia have announced a historic defence pact that will reshape the future of conflict in the region, including with China.
Australia and Indonesia have announced a historic defence pact that is expected to spell out the rules of engagement in the event of conflict in the region, including with China.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, a former special forces commander who is in Australia for the first time since formally taking office last year, finalised the deal with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this week.
Mr Albanese met Mr Prabowo in Jakarta in May this year for the Australia–Indonesia annual leaders’ meeting during the prime minister’s first overseas trip after the federal election.
“I am delighted to host President Prabowo in Australia and to return the warm and generous hospitality he provided when I visited Jakarta earlier this year,” Mr Albanese said in a statement.
“Australia and Indonesia share a deep trust and unbreakable bond as neighbours, partners and friends. Together we are committed to working for a secure, stable and prosperous Indo Pacific.”
Speaking in Sydney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia and Indonesia had “substantively concluded negotiations on a new bilateral treaty on our common security.”
“Australia’s relationship with Indonesia is based on friendship, trust, mutual respect and a shared commitment to peace and stability in our region,’’ he said.
“This treaty is a recognition from both our nations that the best way to secure that peace and stability is by acting together.
“It signals a new era in the Australia-Indonesia relationship. The treaty is predominantly based on the landmark security agreement signed by the Keating and Suharto governments 30 years ago.
“And if either or both countries’ security is threatened, (we will) consult and consider what measures may be taken either individually or jointly, to deal with those threats. This is a watershed moment in the Australia relationship.
“I hope to travel to Indonesia in January next year at the President’s invitation to formally sign the new treaty.”
The Indonesian President said he believed in the importance of “good neighbours”.
“It is our destiny to be direct neighbours,’’ he said.
“So let us face our destiny with the best of intentions. I believe in the good neighbour policy.
“Good neighbours are essential. Good neighbours will help each other in times of
difficulties.”
The historic deal is already being compared with the 1995 Agreement on Maintaining Security negotiated by former Labor prime minister Paul Keating and President Suharto.
“Suharto and my arrangement was essentially a mutual defence pact. Because a major threat to one, given the geography, necessarily impacted on the other, or had consequences for the other or would have had consequences,’’ Mr Keating said last year.
“Suharto was substantially worried about a future rising China and so was I, but even then, 30 years ago, he worried about Indonesia’s incapacity to protect its sprawling archipelago against a competent force.”
“It was abrogated by Indonesia after [John] Howard extravagantly gave the then General [Peter] Cosgrove a conquering hero’s reception in Australia when returning from what was a UN-sponsored mission.
“Habibie, the [Indonesian] president, took great offence at it and abrogated the treaty. A huge loss for both countries.”
Australia and Indonesia previously signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) last year, reinforcing the existing Lombok Treaty and foreshadowing deeper practical cooperation.
Historically, some Indonesian defence officials have remained wary of deeper cooperation however, due to unresolved tensions from past events, particularly the 1999 East Timor crisis.
Tensions between the countries flared again in the 1990s, with Australia’s leading role in supporting East Timor’s independence.
In the 1960s, former Prime Minister Robert Menzies was so concerned about Indonesia that he ordered the F-111 bomber because he wanted a deterrent against Indonesia.
One of Australia’s most eminent experts on Indonesia, the Australian National University’s Greg Fealy, has previously highlighted the blockages to greater engagement.
“In particular, Indonesia will be loath to engage in any strategic activity that antagonises China. It highly values its current neutral ‘honest broker’ role between China and the US and its allies,’’ he said.
Last year’s pact, finalised during a visit to Canberra by Indonesia’s president-elect Prabowo Subianto, will see Indonesia throw open the doors of its military bases to Australian Defence Force personnel.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles, said last year that as one of our closest neighbours, Australia’s relationship with Indonesia is essential to our nation’s security and prosperity.
“The signing of the Defence Cooperation Agreement with Indonesia represents the most significant defence agreement in the history of our two countries,’’ he said.
“This agreement reflects our mutual determination to grow the defence partnership in support of the global rules-based order.”
Mr Albanese hailed the 2024 deal as a breakthrough in the nations’ bilateral relationship.
“This historic treaty will bolster our strong defence co-operation by deepening dialogue, strengthening interoperability, and enhancing practical arrangements,” the Prime Minister said.
“It will be a vital plank for our two countries to support each other’s security, which is vital to both countries, but also to the stability of the region that we share.”
Mr Prabowo said that while he wanted to strengthen Indonesia’s ties with key partners.
“I have announced many times that we want the best of relationships with all great powers, but especially with our neighbours,” he said.
“And I have announced that I would like to strengthen the policy of a good neighbour. And in this respect I am very cognisant and I’m very aware of the importance of the Australia-Indonesia relationship as … neighbours, and I would like to continue this collaboration and this co-operation.”
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