Indonesia and Australia Boost Regional Security Ties

(L-R) Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto pose for photographs during the 8th Australian-Indonesia 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, February 9, 2023. AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Indonesia and Australia are set to boost regional security ties after the countries announced that they would upgrade their existing defence partnership agreement to a cooperation agreement that will be binding under international law.

In a joint media release on Feb. 10, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and his Indonesia counterpart, the Indonesian Defence Minister Pranowo Subianto, said that the countries intend for the new agreement to bolster strong defence cooperation between the two countries.