Latest news with #AustraliaIndonesiaRelations
The Guardian
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Australia news live: Anthony Albanese arrives in Indonesia; Longman and Flinders go to Liberals
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Sarah Basford Canales Anthony Albanese will meet with Indonesian president, Prabowo Subianto, in Jakarta later today as part of his first international visit since being elected for a second-term. The prime minister will be joined by foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, and home affairs minister, Tony Burke, in Jakarta in a meeting aimed at strengthening ties with the fast-growing neighbour. Albanese said in a statement: I am honoured to be a guest of President Prabowo Subianto. There is no country more important to Australia than Indonesia. We have a long history of cooperation and friendship, celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations last year. During the federal election campaign, a media report published by the defence news website Janes claimed Russia had filed an official request with Indonesia for permission for its military aircraft to be based out of an airbase on the island of Biak, in Indonesia's easternmost Papua province. The Australian government's position has been that there is 'no prospect' of a Russian military base being established on Indonesian soil, a position reaffirmed by the Indonesian government. An Indonesian foreign ministry spokesperson said the government had not granted permission to any country to establish a military base on its territory. Share Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Rafqa Touma with the main action. Anthony Albanese will look to deepen defence and investment ties with Indonesia in talks with the nation's president, Prabowo Subianto. The prime minister will meet face-to-face with Prabowo in Jakarta later today in his first overseas trip since Labor's election victory. We have more details coming up. The ABC has called two electorates, Longman and Flinders, for the Coalition, leaving just two seats in the new federal lower house in doubt. However, Zoe Daniel, the teal independent who saw her seat of Goldstein called for the Liberal Tim Wilson last week, has still not conceded and narrowed her deficit from 1,500 votes on Friday to 401 this morning. More coming up. Share
ABC News
14-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
In Indonesia, Albanese has a chance to reset a relationship held back by anxiety and misperceptions
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has wasted little time taking his first overseas trip since Labor won a historic victory in Australia's federal election. He'll head to Indonesia today to meet the country's new president, Prabowo Subianto. With both nations entering new political chapters, the visit carries symbolic weight. But it will also have practical importance. Despite the two nations' proximity and strengths, the relationship has often been held back by outdated perceptions and strategic hesitation. This is a timely opportunity to reset the relationship. Prabowo's emerging foreign policy Prabowo succeeded outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in October after a decade of his infrastructure-driven and globally engaged leadership. Prabowo, a former army general and defence minister, had projected a populist and nationalist image during his 2024 election campaign. He frequently emphasised Indonesia's food self-sufficiency, military strength and national sovereignty. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto greets supporters after being sworn in as the country's eighth president in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 2024. ( AP: Dita Alangkara ) Since taking office, however, he has moderated his tone. While seen by some in the West as assertive, he has signalled a willingness to strengthen bilateral defence ties with Australia. He also has an interest in modernising Indonesia's military and engaging more transparently with partners. Still, questions remain about how he will shape Indonesia's foreign policy. This includes whether he will maintain Jokowi's emphasis on multilateralism and economic diplomacy. Both are key to the tone and outcomes of Albanese's visit. Prabowo's leadership style is nuanced. Despite his polarising image, Indonesia's foreign policy is still shaped by pragmatism and non-alignment. As such, Prabowo will likely focus on balancing relations with China, the United States and Russia, while protecting Indonesia's sovereignty. Indonesia's decision to join BRICS, the economic group that includes both China and Russia, for example, should be seen as a diplomatic hedge, not a new geopolitical alignment. Other recent decisions, such as providing aid to Fiji, suggest an increasingly outward-facing regional posture. Albanese should offer Prabowo credible alternatives to Russian and Chinese engagement through trade, technology and education exchanges, rather than reacting to Jakarta's moves with suspicion. Opportunities for cooperation In his election campaign, Albanese reaffirmed his government's commitment to working closely with Southeast Asia. He also promised a foreign policy grounded in diplomacy, climate cooperation and economic diversification. This provides a strong incentive for both leaders to deepen ties. For Australia, deepening ties with Indonesia supports its Indo-Pacific strategy. The goal: promoting a stable and inclusive regional order, particularly amid concerns over growing strategic competition between the US and China. For Indonesia, Australia offers investment, education partnerships, and critical expertise in clean energy and innovation. A free-trade agreement signed in 2019 provides a platform for deeper integration and less competition in certain industries. Joko Widodo was welcomed by Anthony Albanese at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne, Australia, in March 2024. ( AP: Hamish Blair ) For example, there are huge opportunities to collaborate in clean energy, particularly after the neighbours signed a climate partnership last year. The agreement will secure supplies of lithium for Indonesia's EV battery production, while Australia will gain more export markets for its critical minerals. People-to-people ties are also vital, while education remains a longstanding pillar of the bilateral relationship. Both countries face skills shortages in key sectors. Indonesia needs skilled workers in health care, clean technology and digital literacy. Australia has shortages in critical infrastructure, aged care and engineering. There are good opportunities here for student exchanges, joint employment training programs and other vocational collaborations. New Australian university campuses in Indonesia are a positive step, but they remain commercially focused and concentrated in elite, urban areas. With over 4,000 universities across the archipelago, these partnerships could go much further. Where tensions might arise The relationship is not without friction. Australia's involvement in the AUKUS agreement, and its close alignment with the United States and United Kingdom, has raised concerns for Indonesia, which has long championed non-alignment. Jakarta has voiced unease over the perceived risks of nuclear submarine proliferation in the region. Albanese's visit is a key opportunity to clarify that AUKUS involves nuclear-powered — not nuclear-armed — submarines. He should also reinforce Australia's commitment to transparency over the deal. This is essential to avoiding misunderstandings and building trust. A more recent flashpoint is speculation around a possible Russian military presence in Indonesia — a claim the Indonesian government has firmly denied. Prabowo Subianto, waving to media as he leaves for his inauguration ceremony in Jakarta, October 2024. ( AP: Dita Alangkara ) Indonesia's response exemplifies its longstanding commitment to strategic autonomy. However, the whole ordeal reveals the complexity of Jakarta's foreign relations, which often involve balancing ties with competing powers. For Australia, acknowledging Indonesia's independent foreign policy — rather than interpreting it through a great-power rivalry lens — is critical to sustaining mutual trust. A chance to re-anchor the relationship This moment offers both governments the chance to move beyond symbolic gestures toward a deeper, more inclusive and people-centred partnership. Amid global fragmentation, trust is not just desirable — it's essential. And while differences remain, they are not insurmountable when guided by mutual respect, strategic patience and a commitment to genuine cooperation. For Australia, the challenge is to move past strategic anxiety and invest in a resilient, multidimensional relationship with Indonesia. This visit could be the first step in doing just that. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
News.com.au
13-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Penny Wong reveals Australia's first steps with crucial allies as Albo heads to Indonesia
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has revealed Australia's first steps with crucial allies Indonesia and the US as Anthony Albanese is expected to head overseas in the coming days. The Prime Minister said his first trip after winning the federal election would be to Indonesia to 'signal' the importance of the defence and security relationship with the region. He is expected to land in Jakarta to meet with President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday – a day after his government was sworn in. Senator Wong said there was no other country more important to Australia than Indonesia. 'The first trip the Prime Minister is making is to Indonesia, and I'm sure there will be other engagements that are settled in the weeks and months to come, including with the United States,' she told Today. 'Obviously, the first trip being to Indonesia sends a signal, just as his first trip last term was to Indonesia too. '(The) region matters to Australia and we're very focused on what we can continue to do to keep strengthening that relationship.' The Indonesian-Russian relationship was a focal point during the election campaign because of security concerns. A military intelligence firm reported that Russia was looking to base long-range aircraft at an air force base in Papua, the most eastern Indonesian province. However, the Indonesian defence minister said that no such Russian base would be allowed. Senator Wong said the relationship between Australia and Indonesia had been ongoing since the time of former prime minister Robert Menzies in the 1960s. 'What we have to focus on is what we do, and that's what we've done,' she added. 'We've got, for the first time ever, a defence agreement with Indonesia. We have stronger economic ties, we work much more closely diplomatically, internationally.' When asked about relations with the US and President Donald Trump, Senator Wong reiterated that the 'usual rules don't apply'. 'It's a different approach, and we will take that step by step,' she said. 'We recognise that President Trump and the United States envisage a very different role for America in the world. 'There's obviously changes in policy and we'll have to keep dealing with that, and I think it's very important for us to stay clear and steady on what is our national interest, what is in Australia's national interest,' Senator Wong said. 'We are a sovereign nation and we make decisions about what advances our interests.' She confirmed that Australia would continue to engage about ongoing trade issues. Mr Albanese is expected to attend the G7 leaders meeting in Alberta next month, opening up an opportunity to meet with Mr Trump in either Canada or the US.
