Indonesia, Australia Seal New Bilateral Security Defense Pact

KBRN, Jakarta: In a striking display of security cooperation, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto utilized the helicopter deck of the aircraft carrier HMAS Canberra in Sydney, Australia, to announce the outcomes of their one-on-one and bilateral discussions to journalists on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

The two leaders, both wearing matching caps bearing the "HMAS Canberra" logo, gave their joint statements alternately, beginning with PM Albanese, followed by President Prabowo. During their joint statement, which detailed the outcome of their bilateral meeting, PM Albanese and President Prabowo announced a newly agreed-upon bilateral security and defense pact between the two countries.

"The Australian Government and the Indonesian Government have agreed on the substance of negotiations for a new bilateral agreement in the common interest in the field of security. Australia's relationship with Indonesia is founded on friendship, mutual trust, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region," PM Albanese said, as quoted by Antara.

PM Albanese went on to say that the new bilateral agreement recognized that cooperation is the best way for Indonesia and Australia to maintain peace and stability in the region. "This is a new chapter in the relationship between Indonesia and Australia," he added.

President Prabowo began his remarks by thanking PM Albanese for the welcome in Sydney. "This is my first state visit to Australia, although I have been here quite often, and I was very happy to be welcomed by the Governor-General this morning. Our discussions were very good, and I think we have agreed on a very important agreement for Australia and Indonesia," said President Prabowo.

President Prabowo then emphasized Australia’s importance to Indonesia, affirming that Indonesia consistently maintains a policy of good neighborliness as a core tenet of its foreign policy.

"I believe in a good neighbor policy. A good neighbor is very important. A good neighbor will help each other in difficult times. For us, Indonesians, we have a saying: when we face an emergency situation, it is our neighbors who will help us. Our relatives may live far away, and the person closest to us is our neighbor, and only good neighbors will help one another," he explained.

After delivering their respective joint statements, President Prabowo and PM Albanese shook hands and posed for photographs. Following this, President Prabowo, accompanied by Foreign Minister Sugiono, continued to converse with PM Albanese and several senior Australian officials.

Soon after, President Prabowo and PM Albanese departed from the location of the joint statement on the HMAS Canberra's heli deck. ***