Indonesia, Australia Sign Treaty To Boost Security Ties

JAKARTA, Feb 6 (Bernama) --  Indonesia and Australia on Friday signed a joint security treaty aimed at enhancing their strategic partnership in safeguarding their respective national security interests, while contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said the cooperation was in line with the principle of good neighbourliness and Indonesia’s free and active foreign policy.

“Indonesia and Australia are destined to live side by side and we choose to build our relationship based on mutual trust and goodwill,” he said in a joint press conference with visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, at Istana Merdeka.

Meanwhile, Albanese said the treaty was a significant extension of both countries’ existing security and defence cooperation, and demonstrated the strength of the partnership and the depth of trust and cooperation.

To complement the treaty, he also announced a range of new defence cooperation initiatives  including an offer to establish a new embedded position for a senior Indonesian officer in the Australian Defence Force.

The initiatives, he said, aimed to strengthen trust, military training and education exchanges between the two countries.

Albanese said both countries also agreed to establish a memorandum of understanding between the Australian Government and the Indonesian Sovereign Wealth Fund, Danantara.

“This will lead to increased cooperation and information sharing between Australian agencies and Indonesia's newest Sovereign Wealth Fund. 

“Just as importantly, it will help to identify opportunities for increased two-way investment between our nations, bolstering our shared economic security and resilience,” he said.

The two leaders also discussed ways to enhance cooperation in education, human capital, mining and agriculture.

“I also invite Australia to invest in Indonesia’s downstream processing of critical minerals, including nickel, copper, bauxite and gold. At the same time, we are encouraging Indonesian companies to invest in Australia’s critical minerals mining sector.

“Danantara Indonesia is ready to work with its partners in Australia to explore co-investment opportunities and various other forms of partnership,”  Prabowo said.

-- BERNAMA