In May 2025, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met in Jakarta to enhance bilateral cooperation in defense and economic sectors. Albanese emphasized Indonesia’s significance to Australia, citing the region’s rapid growth and Indonesia’s projected rise to the world’s fifth-largest economy by 2040. The two countries, long-time neighbors and partners, have deepened ties through a 2024 Defense Cooperation Agreement, hailed as their most significant pact yet. This agreement, supported by the existing 2006 Lombok Treaty, promotes advanced joint military exercises and collaborative efforts in maritime security, counterterrorism, and disaster response.
The leaders underscored mutual goals of regional stability and shared prosperity. Albanese stated the strengthened partnership would advance national and regional security while fostering long-term economic growth. In response to recent reports, Indonesia firmly denied any Russian request to station military aircraft in Papua, near Australia’s northern coast, a gesture that reassures Australia of Jakarta’s stance. According to defense analyst Euan Graham, the Australia–Indonesia partnership is progressing steadily with a new level of stability, signaling a promising chapter in regional diplomacy and cooperation.
