Indonesia and Australia have signed a long-awaited Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA), with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto calling the defence pact a “historic milestone” that will strengthen ties between the two countries amid growing regional security concerns.
The signing ceremony took place on Thursday at the National Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java. Prabowo and Australian Foreign Minister Richard Marles, who led the Australian delegation at the ceremony, signed the document.
The ceremony was also attended by Golkar’s Chairman of the House of Representatives’ First Committee Meutia Hafid, as well as representatives from the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“This is not a military alliance,” Prabowo said after the signing. “This is defense cooperation and shows our desire to continue to maintain good relations and friendship.”
He also said the DCA would pave the way for the two countries to cooperate with each other to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as confront growing threats in the region where tensions have risen due to small groupings and skirmishes in the South China Sea.
Indonesia has a liberal and proactive foreign policy and is walking a narrow path amid ongoing competition between the United States and China for influence in the region, while Australia is closely aligned with its English-speaking allies.
“We respect Australia’s sovereign right to protect its security and we understand that Australia respects our national interests,” said Prabowo, who will be sworn in as the country’s next president on October 20.
