Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesian and Australian leaders signed a new bilateral security treaty , committing both nations to deeper cooperation and consultation in the face of regional challenges. The agreement, hailed by both governments as a significant strengthening of ties, comes amid growing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
The treaty was signed in Jakarta, three months after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced the substantive conclusion of negotiations in Sydney. Officials emphasized the pact builds upon existing security agreements established in and , aiming to better utilize established frameworks for collaboration.
“It demonstrates the strength of our partnership and the depth of our trust,” Albanese stated at a joint news conference with Prabowo at the Merdeka Palace. “This agreement signals that Australia and Indonesia’s relationship is stronger than it has ever been.”
Albanese’s visit to Jakarta, which began , marks his fifth official trip to Southeast Asia’s largest economy. His office indicated the visit is part of a broader effort to expand cooperation beyond security concerns, encompassing trade, investment, education, and development initiatives.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, accompanying Albanese, described the treaty as the most important development in the bilateral partnership in three decades. Prabowo reciprocated, calling Australia “one of Indonesia’s closest neighbors and a strategic partner,” and asserting the treaty “reflects our shared resolve to work closely to safeguard our respective national security and to make a concrete contribution to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.”
Beyond the signing itself, Albanese announced new security initiatives, including embedding a senior Indonesian officer within the Australian Defence Force, supporting joint defense training facilities, and expanding military education exchange programs. These measures are intended to foster closer operational collaboration and enhance interoperability between the two militaries.
Analysts suggest the timing of the treaty is particularly significant given escalating tensions with China in the region. While the treaty’s specifics remain undisclosed, experts believe it will likely echo elements of the security agreement signed by then-Prime Minister Paul Keating and Indonesia’s former President Suharto, Prabowo’s father-in-law. That earlier agreement committed both nations to consult on security matters and respond to potential threats.
However, the history of security cooperation between Australia and Indonesia has not been without its challenges. The agreement was terminated by Indonesia in following Australia’s decision to lead a peacekeeping mission into East Timor, a move that strained relations for several years. Security ties were subsequently rebuilt with the Lombok Treaty, which was further expanded in .
Susannah Patton of the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based think tank, characterized the new agreement as primarily a statement of political commitment rather than a document outlining concrete obligations. She described it as a “symbolic agreement,” noting that a separate defense cooperation accord focuses more on practical military collaboration.
Patton emphasized that the treaty falls below the level of Australia’s alliance with the United States and its security agreement with Papua New Guinea. She also indicated it is unlikely to definitively clarify whether Indonesia would come to Australia’s defense in the event of a regional conflict. “So it’s very much not a mutual defense treaty because I think that would not be politically acceptable to Indonesia as a non-aligned country,” she said.
Despite these qualifications, Patton lauded the agreement as a significant diplomatic achievement for Albanese, particularly given Indonesia’s traditionally non-aligned foreign policy stance. She noted that Australia has benefited from the current leadership in Indonesia, with President Prabowo demonstrating a greater willingness to forge leader-led agreements that deviate from established diplomatic norms.
The relationship between Australia and Indonesia has experienced periods of strain in the past, including allegations of Australian intelligence wiretapping of Indonesian officials, the execution of Australian citizens convicted of drug offenses in Indonesia, and disputes over irregular migration. The signing of this new security treaty represents a concerted effort to move beyond these past difficulties and establish a more stable and predictable security partnership.
