Australia, Indonesia agree defense pact

Indonesia’s Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto (L) greets Australia’s Minister for Defense Industry and Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy upon arrival for the 10th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus in Jakarta on November 16, 2023. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse

CANBERRA — Australia and Indonesia unveiled a new defense agreement Tuesday, pledging closer cooperation in the contested Asia-Pacific region as a new leader prepares to take over in Jakarta.

The pact — which includes provisions for joint drills and each military operating in the other country — was unveiled as Indonesian defense minister and president-elect Prabowo Subianto visited Canberra.

Prabowo, who will take the reins of the world’s third-largest democracy in October, said he wanted to forge closer ties with Canberra while following the “general policies” of his predecessor Joko Widodo.

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He singled out the need for Australian help in areas such as agriculture, food security and international drug trafficking.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said the defense agreement, expected to be formally signed in the coming days, was one of the most significant agreements ever negotiated between the two neighbors.

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“This historic treaty… will be a vital plank for our two countries to support each other’s security,” said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Indonesia and Australia have been hashing out the defence agreement since February last year.