Australia, Indonesia deepen defence ties following landmark security treaty

The talks will focus on practical cooperation across defence, security, economic, and development priorities, building on the countries’ longstanding strategic partnership.

The meeting comes six months after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto signed the Australia–Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, known as the Jakarta Treaty.

The agreement strengthens bilateral defence cooperation and establishes greater consultation and cooperation between Australia and Indonesia in responding to shared security challenges.

Marles said the relationship was continuing to strengthen, with the meeting providing an opportunity to advance practical initiatives under both the existing Australia–Indonesia Defence Cooperation Agreement and the new treaty.

“I look forward to our meeting where we will have the opportunity to discuss progress across a range of practical defence and security initiatives to operationalise the Australia–Indonesia Defence Cooperation Agreement and the Jakarta Treaty,” he said.

Wong described the talks as marking a new chapter in the bilateral relationship, with cooperation increasingly extending across the full breadth of Australia’s partnership with Indonesia.

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The deepening relationship is strategically significant for Australia, given Indonesia’s geographic position astride key approaches into the Australian archipelago and its growing importance as a regional security and economic power.

For Canberra, closer defence ties with Jakarta provide an opportunity to strengthen cooperation on maritime security, regional stability and shared strategic challenges while building greater interoperability between the two nations’ armed forces.

The latest meeting also comes amid wider efforts by Australia to deepen security relationships across south-east Asia and the Indo-Pacific as strategic competition intensifies.

With the Jakarta Treaty now providing a stronger political framework for bilateral security cooperation, the focus is increasingly shifting towards translating the agreement into practical defence activities, operational cooperation, and greater institutional integration.

The Melbourne meeting, therefore, represents an important early test of the treaty’s ambition, and a further indication of the growing strategic importance Australia places on its relationship with Indonesia.

Stephen Kuper

Author

Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.

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