Australia and Indonesia have cemented a new defence cooperation agreement, marking a significant milestone in their bilateral relationship. The deal, hailed as a “historic treaty” by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, aims to enhance security cooperation between the two nations, which share the world’s longest maritime borders. The agreement will facilitate more joint military exercises and visits, fostering greater interoperability between their armed forces.
While neither Australia nor Indonesia explicitly mentioned China, the pact arrives amidst heightened regional concerns regarding China’s assertive activities and ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. Australia views the Indo-Pacific as its strategic backyard and has been working with partners like the United States and India to counter China’s growing influence. The agreement, according to Albanese, is not only vital for the two nations but also for the “stability of the region that we share”.
However, the agreement’s practical implications have raised questions. Indonesia, unlike Australia, has not expressed similar anxieties about China’s actions and has maintained a non-aligned stance, unwilling to join any formal alliances. Euan Graham, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, highlighted this divergence in threat perceptions, questioning the deal’s strategic value for Australia. He stated that Indonesia’s non-aligned approach means it will not side with any major power bloc, including the United States.
The deal underscores Australia’s active engagement in bolstering regional security. In recent years, Australia has entered into numerous security-related agreements, including the AUKUS pact with the United Kingdom and the United States, which aims to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. Other significant agreements include the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) with Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK, and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue with the United States, Japan, and India.
However, the agreement also raises human rights concerns. Critics have expressed concerns that the Indonesian government might exploit the deal for political gain, citing concerns about human rights abuses, particularly those affecting the Muslim community, LGBTQ+ individuals, and the Papuan population. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Australia to use the platform created by the agreement to pressure Indonesia to address these concerns, including the mandatory hijab rules, the crackdown on LGBTQ+ individuals, and the government’s restrictions on foreign journalists and UN officials accessing West Papua. The HRW points to reports of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in West Papua, highlighting the ongoing human rights challenges in the region.
The new defence agreement between Australia and Indonesia represents a significant step in strengthening their bilateral relationship and enhancing regional security. However, concerns regarding the agreement’s practical implications and the complex human rights landscape in Indonesia add layers of complexity to this partnership.
