iscover
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led a new charm offensive to Indonesia at the first overseas bilateral opportunity in the government’s second term.
During the visit, Albanese’s fourth to Indonesia as prime minister, leadership met with Republic of Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto for the Australia–Indonesia Annual Leaders’ Meeting and issued a joint communiqué on 15 May.
Australia has scrambled to patch up relations with Indonesia after an embarrassing diplomatic incident sent shockwaves through the PM’s office in April this year. At that time, media reports found that Russia had submitted an official request to base military aircraft at the Manuhua Air Force Base in Papua, although the Indonesian government reportedly turned down the request.
Prime Minister Albanese has now announced a number of initiatives to build the security relationship between the two countries, such as $15 million over four years to enhance maritime cooperation and establish an annual officials-level dialogue on maritime issues, commencement of Indonesian military training in the Northern Territory later this year, as well as $3.5 million for a clinical anti-malaria drug trial for the Indonesian military.
“I am delighted to be here in Jakarta for my first bilateral meeting following my re-election as prime minister of Australia in what is my fourth visit to Indonesia as prime minister. I have come to our region first – because our region comes first,” Prime Minister Albanese said during a statement on 15 May.
“I am here in Indonesia because no relationship is more important to Australia than this one. And no nation is more important to the prosperity, security and stability of the Indo-Pacific than Indonesia.
“This is the fastest-growing region of the world in human history and Indonesia is central to that growth. Already the fourth-largest nation in the world, by population. And projected to be the fifth-largest economy in the world by the end of the next decade.
“This growth and transformation is a credit to the hard work and aspiration of the people of Indonesia. To nation-building programs that improve lives, such as President Prabowo’s free nutritious meals initiative.
“The growth of your nation and our region also speaks for the prosperity and opportunity created by free and fair trade – and by the peace and stability that makes it possible. And I assure you Mr President of Australia’s support for your joining the OECD as well as your accession to the CPTPP.
“Security built on respect for the sovereignty of every nation and for the rules that govern all nations. All of us who have benefited from this framework share a responsibility to maintain it and strengthen it. So that future of our region is shaped by shared opportunity and secured through collective responsibility.”
Australia has also committed to a Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 to support businesses to take advantage of trade and investment opportunities in Indonesian healthcare, renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure and mining industries.
In addition, both leaders agreed to review and expand the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to explore new opportunities for economic growth powered by the net zero transition, critical and emerging minerals and technologies, and digital trade.
Australia is also committed to strengthening the current Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with $100 million to strengthen Indonesia’s health system (human and animal infectious diseases), supporting Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara, $50 million to the Fund for Green Infrastructure under the Australia-Indonesia Climate and Infrastructure Partnership, supporting Indonesia’s Garuda Schools Program though 10 scholarships for students to study a masters of education in Australia, as well as incentivising investment in green infrastructure and clean energy projects in Indonesia.
Speaking at his inauguration speech in October last year, President Subianto confirmed that the country will only prioritise benefiting the people, a “free and active” non-aligned approach to international relations, food self-sufficiency, energy self-sufficiency (gasoline, diesel, palm oil) and education of its citizens.
“We will lead the government of the Republic of Indonesia, the leadership of the nation and the people of Indonesia with sincerity, put the interests of all people of Indonesia first, including those who did not vote for us,” President Subianto said in a speech before the plenary session of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia on 20 October.
“We will put the interests of the nation of Indonesia, the people of Indonesia, above all else – above all groups, and certainly above our own.
“In terms of international relations, Indonesia chooses a ‘free and active’, non-aligned approach. We do not want to join any military pacts; we choose the path of friendship with all countries. I have repeatedly stated that Indonesia will carry out foreign policy as a country that wishes to be a good neighbour, we want to be the good neighbour. We want to follow the ancient philosophy, ‘A thousand friends are too few, one enemy is too many.’
“Thus, we want to be friends with all countries. However, we have principles. Our principle is the principle of anti-colonialism, because we have experienced colonialism. We are against oppression, because we have been oppressed. We are anti-racism; we are anti-apartheid, because we have experienced apartheid.
“That is why we have a principle: we must be solidary; we must defend the oppressed peoples of the world.”
