Strengthening Ties: Australia and Indonesia Enhance Defence Cooperation at Key Meeting

Canberra: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong will today welcome Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono to Melbourne.

At the 10th Australia–Indonesia Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting, Ministers will discuss cooperation on defence, security, economic and development priorities.

Australia and Indonesia share a deep and longstanding partnership, underpinned by trust, mutual respect and close cooperation.

The meeting follows Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Prabowo Subianto’s signing in February of the landmark Australia–Indonesia Treaty on Common Security (the Jakarta Treaty), which strengthens defence cooperation and increases consultation and cooperation on shared security challenges.

“Our relationship with Indonesia continues to go from strength to strength, reflecting mutual trust and a shared commitment to regional stability,” said Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, quoted from an Australia Embassy statement on Wednesday, 26 August 2026.

“I look forward to our meeting where we will have the opportunity to discuss progress across a range of practical defence and security initiatives to operationalise the Australia-Indonesia Defence Cooperation Agreement and the Jakarta Treaty,” Marles added.

While Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that, “This is our first meeting since the signing of the Jakarta Treaty and marks a new chapter in the relationship between Australia and Indonesia.”

“Together we are building on the strong ties between our countries and deepening cooperation across the full breadth of our partnership,” said Wong.