Australia, Indonesia Tie up ‘Historic’ Defence Pact

Published on August 20, 2024

Australia and Indonesia have pledged closer cooperation in the contested Asia-Pacific region, announcing on Aug. 20 a “treaty-level” defence pact that Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles described as “historic.” The agreement had been under negotiation since February and will be formally signed in the coming weeks when Marles travels to Indonesia. The treaty extends beyond the current Australia-Indonesia Defence Co-operation Arrangement—which facilitates joint security exercises—and will see military and security personnel from Indonesia operating out of Australia, and vice versa. Beyond that, very little detail is known and no questions were allowed at a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President-elect and Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto....

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