Indonesia and Australia Finalize Historic Defense Cooperation Agreement

Canberra, The Gulf Observer: In a significant development for regional security and bilateral relations, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the completion of negotiations on a new Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between the two nations. The announcement was made during a press conference at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday.

Minister Prabowo expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved in the negotiations, noting the successful resolution of several legal matters. “We have straightened out a number of details related to legal matters, which, in my opinion, the results are also good,” Prabowo remarked.

Australian Prime Minister Albanese lauded the new agreement as historic, emphasizing its importance for the defense cooperation between Indonesia and Australia. “This historic agreement will strengthen our defense cooperation through dialogue, strong interoperability, and improved practices in the field. This will be a vital reference for the two countries and stability in the region,” Albanese affirmed.

The new DCA marks a significant milestone in the defense relations between Indonesia and Australia, reflecting the deepening strategic partnership between the two countries. Albanese further revealed that Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, would travel to Jakarta in the coming days to sign the agreement with his Indonesian counterpart.

Minister Marles highlighted the impact of the agreement on future military collaborations. “This agreement will increase interoperability between the armed forces of the two countries,” he stated, adding that it represents the most significant cooperation document ever established between Indonesia and Australia. Marles stressed the importance of the agreement in fostering a “strong strategic mutual trust” between the two nations.

The swift conclusion of the negotiations, completed in under two years, underscores the commitment of both countries to enhancing their defense ties.

In addition to defense, Minister Prabowo called for expanded cooperation in other critical areas, including food security, agriculture, and combating drug smuggling. “I think we discussed important issues, and this will be beneficial for the future of the two countries,” Prabowo stated.

The signing of the DCA is expected to pave the way for increased joint military exercises and deeper defense collaboration, further solidifying the relationship between Indonesia and Australia as they navigate shared security challenges in the region.