Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia Richard Donald Marles signed the Indonesia-Australia Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) at Graha Utama Hall, the Indonesian Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java, on Thursday, August 29, 2024.
Prabowo described the bilateral defense cooperation agreement as a milestone in the continuation of the Lombok Treaty, an agreement between Australia and Indonesia signed in 2006 that provides a framework for addressing traditional and non-traditional security challenges.
“We come together as neighbors in direct contact, enhance cooperation to help each other overcome various security threats and promote sustainable peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region,” Prabowo said.
“This signifies that we want to continue and maintain close relations and excellent friendly relations. I am determined to maintain Indonesia-Australia relations for the better in the future,” he added.
Meanwhile, Richard Marles expressed his gratitude to Prabowo and was impressed with the cadets at the Indonesian Military Academy.
“This is the most significant defense agreement in the history of our bilateral relationship and we honor it. We are close friends and it shows in the agreement we have signed today,” Richard said.
“Thank you Mr. Prabowo for making time for me and my delegation at the Indonesian Military Academy. We are very honored and impressed with the cadets’ parade today,” he added.
The DCA is legally binding, demonstrating serious commitment of both countries to enhance and strengthen defense relations within the framework of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The consideration of increasing the status of the DCA into a legally binding agreement is based on the intensity of increase in military cooperation activities between the two countries over the past 10 years, especially in the field of education and training.
One example is the sending of Indonesian Military (TNI) cadets to the Australian Defense Force Academy (ADFA) and the Duntroon Military Academy, the Joint UN Mission plan between the TNI and ADF, as well as an increase in the intensity of Joint Exercises both inter-service and combined three services of the two countries.
The negotiation of the text of the agreement has been carried out through a series of meetings in Jakarta in May and December, including in Canberra in August 2023.
The signing of the Indonesia-Australia DCA can be achieved thanks to the defense cooperation that has been well established for nearly 60 years since 1967.
