Australia forges closer defense ties with Indonesia as PM visits Jakarta
JAKARTA: Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held defense talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Thursday, as he visited Jakarta on his first international visit since re-election.
Albanese arrived in the Indonesian capital on Wednesday evening, a day after his new government was sworn in, as the two countries seek to further strengthen their strategic ties.
The trip comes less than a year after Indonesia and Australia cemented a landmark defense pact last August, which includes provisions that allow their forces to operate from each other's countries.
'This treaty-level agreement, underpinned by the Lombok treaty, will enable new cooperation in maritime security, counterterrorism as well as humanitarian and disaster relief,' Albanese said during a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace.
The 2006 Lombok Treaty, which entered into force two years later, included agreements on joint military exercises, maritime security and military training.
Albanese said the August deal was 'the most significant step' in Australia and Indonesia's security partnership for three decades.
'Let me be very clear, I do not see this agreement though as the last step, just the next step. I want us to aim high, go further, and work even more closely together.'
Indonesia and Australia held their largest-ever joint military exercise last November, with around 2,000 troops training in air, maritime, amphibious and land operations.
'I'm here in Indonesia because no relationship is more important to Australia than this one,' Albanese said. 'And no nation is more important to the prosperity, security and stability of the Indo-Pacific than Indonesia.'
Albanese has visited Indonesia four times since becoming Australia's premier in 2022.
Newly elected Australian prime ministers typically make their first bilateral visit to Asia, usually Indonesia.
Prabowo said the two countries were committed to 'complete the ratification process' of their latest defense agreement.
'We will continue discussing other possibilities to improve and increase cooperation in defense,' he added.
During their meeting, Albanese and Prabowo also discussed cooperation in trade, food security, energy transition, critical minerals and people-to-people relations.
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