Australia and Indonesia are on the cusp of signing what is being hailed as a landmark "watershed" defence treaty, with both countries pledging to consult each other regularly on security concerns. The agreement, set to be officially signed in January, commits Australia and Indonesia to "consult at a leader and ministerial level, on a regular basis on matters of security".
The pact aims to facilitate "mutually beneficial security activities" between the two nations, with both countries agreeing to consult and consider measures to address any threats either individually or jointly. The deal is seen as a significant upgrade to their existing close collaboration on security issues.
According to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the treaty is a recognition of the importance of cooperation in securing peace and stability in the region. "This treaty signals a new era in the Australia-Indonesia relationship," he said. "It commits us to close cooperation in the defence and security field."
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto echoed this sentiment, saying that good neighbours will help each other in times of difficulties. He noted that within Indonesian culture, there is a saying which highlights the importance of neighbourly support during emergencies.
The new treaty builds on the previous agreements between the two countries, including the 2006 Lombok Treaty and the 2024 Defence Cooperation Agreement. The text of the treaty has not been made public, but it is reportedly based on a 1995 security agreement signed by Paul Keating and Soeharto.
Australia and Indonesia have long-standing concerns about the rise of China, which is seen as an important economic partner but also a strategic competitor with a growing military presence in the region. The two countries share similar worries about Beijing's intentions, particularly given their geographical proximity to the South China Sea and Pacific region.
The signing of this new defence treaty marks a significant development in the Australia-Indonesia relationship, with both nations committing to work together more closely on security issues.
The pact aims to facilitate "mutually beneficial security activities" between the two nations, with both countries agreeing to consult and consider measures to address any threats either individually or jointly. The deal is seen as a significant upgrade to their existing close collaboration on security issues.
According to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the treaty is a recognition of the importance of cooperation in securing peace and stability in the region. "This treaty signals a new era in the Australia-Indonesia relationship," he said. "It commits us to close cooperation in the defence and security field."
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto echoed this sentiment, saying that good neighbours will help each other in times of difficulties. He noted that within Indonesian culture, there is a saying which highlights the importance of neighbourly support during emergencies.
The new treaty builds on the previous agreements between the two countries, including the 2006 Lombok Treaty and the 2024 Defence Cooperation Agreement. The text of the treaty has not been made public, but it is reportedly based on a 1995 security agreement signed by Paul Keating and Soeharto.
Australia and Indonesia have long-standing concerns about the rise of China, which is seen as an important economic partner but also a strategic competitor with a growing military presence in the region. The two countries share similar worries about Beijing's intentions, particularly given their geographical proximity to the South China Sea and Pacific region.
The signing of this new defence treaty marks a significant development in the Australia-Indonesia relationship, with both nations committing to work together more closely on security issues.
it's gonna be great 4 them 2 work 2gthr on security matters & address any threats 2gether 
i mean, china's growin presence in the region is a big concern 4 both countries, so its good 2 see them collaboratin 
and yeah, prabowo subianto's right, good neighbours r all about lookin out 4 each other in tough times 
can't wait 2 c how this treaty benefits both nations & makes the australia-indonesia relation even stronger 
... like they totally didn't care about the world going on around them... anyway, it got me thinking - if animals can be so laid back, why do we humans always stress about stuff? like, we're all connected to each other and the earth, but we still have these crazy divisions and fears... i don't know, maybe it's just me 
. but i guess its a good step considering aus & indo have been beefin about china's presence in the regn 4eva 
. dont get me wrong tho, its still gonna b a huge upgrade 2 their previous agreements 
. btw, paul keating was a total boss 
. Both countries have been pretty vocal about China, so it'll be interesting to see if they actually do work together to counterbalance that threat 
. Still, gotta give credit where credit is due - this could definitely be a positive step for both countries 
. As a neutral observer, I'm excited to see how this treaty will actually play out in practice 
. What if China tries to test the waters? Will these two friends stick up for each other? 
. The fact that they're recognizing the importance of neighborly support during difficult times is a positive sign 
.
! This is super interesting 
. Plus, having Indonesia on board would be a huge boost for Australia's security concerns 
. I'm just keeping an eye on it, that's all 