Australia and Indonesia Seal Historic Security Treaty, Marking New Era in Bilateral Ties

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SYDNEY, Investortrust.id – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia and Indonesia have concluded negotiations on a landmark bilateral security treaty, signaling what he described as “a new era in the Australia–Indonesia relationship.” The announcement was made alongside President Prabowo Subianto aboard the HMAS Canberra at Garden Island Naval Base in Sydney on Wednesday, Nov 12, 2025.

“The governments of Australia and Indonesia have just substantively concluded negotiations on a new bilateral treaty on our common security,” Albanese said. “Australia’s relationship with Indonesia is based on friendship, trust, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to peace and stability in our region. This treaty is a recognition from both our nations that the best way to secure that peace and stability is by acting together.”

Albanese noted that the new treaty builds on decades of strategic cooperation, starting with the landmark security agreement signed by the Keating and Suharto administrations nearly 30 years ago, and strengthened by the 2006 Lombok Treaty, which reaffirmed Indonesia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. It also builds upon the defense cooperation agreement signed by both countries last year.

Under the new accord, Australia and Indonesia will commit to regular consultations at the leader and ministerial levels on security matters, identify and undertake mutually beneficial security activities, and consult in the event that either nation faces a threat to its security. “This is a watershed moment in the Australia–Indonesia relationship,” Albanese said. “It represents a major extension of our existing security and defense cooperation. It shows the relationship is as strong as it has ever been—and that’s a great thing for our region and for the people of both Australia and Indonesia.”

Albanese also said he intends to visit Indonesia in January 2026 at President Prabowo’s invitation to formally sign the treaty after both nations complete their domestic processes.

President Prabowo, in his remarks, thanked the Australian government for the warm reception and reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to deepening defense and security cooperation with its southern neighbor.

“This is my first state visit to Australia, although I have been here many times,” Prabowo said. “We have concluded an important treaty between Australia and Indonesia, committing ourselves to close cooperation in defense and security, essentially reaffirming our determination to enhance our friendship and, as close neighbors, to maintain the best relationship to guarantee the security of both our countries.”

Prabowo underscored the importance of good neighborly relations as a foundation for long-term stability.

“We cannot choose our neighbors, especially countries like us—it is our destiny to be direct neighbors,” he said. “So let us face our destiny with the best of intentions. I believe in the good neighbor policy. In the Indonesian culture, we have a saying: when we face an emergency, it is our neighbor that will help us. Maybe our relatives remain far away, but our neighbors are the closest, and only good neighbors will help each other.”

The meeting at Garden Island concluded with both leaders expressing mutual respect and optimism for the future of the partnership, capped by a lighthearted moment when President Prabowo thanked the Australian Navy for welcoming him with a bagpipe performance, saying, “I think your intelligence is very good—you know that I like bagpipes.”