Australia, Indonesia sign deal to extend security cooperation in ‘watershed moment’

Australia and Indonesia’s leaders signed a security deal on Friday, one of a series of agreements that Canberra has secured with neighbouring countries to reinforce ties and limit China’s influence in the region.At a signing ceremony, President Prabowo Subianto met Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who said before he travelled to Jakarta that the pact was a “watershed moment” in ties. It “represents a major extension of our security and defence cooperation and demonstrates that our relationship is as strong as it has ever been”, Albanese said.Australia’s centre-left government has signed a series of defence, police and aid deals across the Pacific region since taking office in 2022, attempting to boost its influence and to try and limit that of China. The effort has intensified under President Donald Trump’s administration as the US leans on allies to take up more of the burden in deterring Beijing’s growing military power.Late last year, Australia concluded a security deal with Papua New Guinea, which sits north of Australia and east of Indonesia, and Albanese visited East Timor late last month, signing a new agreement to provide various kinds of aid and support.“The government can be very pleased with the agreements it signed across the Pacific,” said Sam Roggeveen, director of the security programme at the Lowy Institute, a think tank.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) watches a traditional dance performance with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during a welcome ceremony on Friday. Photo: Reuters“Indonesia is in a different category because of its size and also because of this historic commitment to non alignment,” he said, referring to the country’s efforts to seek a middle path in the Cold War.