Indonesia And Australia Inks Defence Cooperation Agreement

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- Indonesia signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with Australia on Thursday, demonstrating the serious commitment of both nations to enhance and strengthen defence relations within the framework of a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The deal was signed by Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Donald Marles at the Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java.

According to the Indonesian Defence Ministry, the signing of the DCA between both nations was made possible by nearly 60 years of well-established defence cooperation since 1967.

“The partnership between Indonesia and Australia grows stronger each year and has provided far-reaching benefits to both nations, even during challenging times,” the ministry said in a statement.

Both parties are confident that the DCA will significantly help to anticipate future security threats in the Asia-Pacific region through collaborative defence efforts aimed at maintaining peace and stability.

The ministry explained that the decision to elevate the DCA to a legally binding agreement was driven by  the intensified military cooperation over the past decade, particularly in education and training.

Examples of this include sending Indonesian National Defence Force (TNI) cadets to study at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) and The Royal Military College, Duntroon; plans for a joint UN mission between the TNI and ADF; and increased joint exercises across the three services of both nations.

In a press conference, Prabowo, clarified that the DCA is “neither a military pact nor a military alliance, but a defence cooperation.”

“This signifies our intention to continue and strengthen our close and excellent friendship. I’m committed to ensuring that the relationship between Indonesia and Australia remains strong in the future.

“Australia was one of the first countries to support our independence. We respect that and will never forget how you defended us in our struggle for sovereignty,” he added.

Since March 2023, over 30 coordination meetings, both online and in-person, have been held to prepare the agreement draft, with negotiations conducted through meetings in Jakarta in May and December, and in Canberra in August 2023.

-- BERNAMA