RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Australia is moving forward with concrete steps to implement the Jakarta Treaty, signed in February 2026, as part of efforts to deepen defense cooperation with Indonesia.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles underscored the treaty’s significance during a press briefing at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on Thursday, March 12, 2026, noting that defense remains its central pillar.

Marles described the current state of bilateral relations as the strongest in history, emphasizing that Australia’s national security is closely tied to collective stability in Southeast Asia, with Indonesia at the heart of the region. He added that both countries recognize each other’s strategic value, grounded in mutual respect for national interests.

In talks with Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Marles outlined several initiatives to operationalize the treaty. Among them is the placement of a senior Indonesian military officer at the rank of colonel as deputy commander of Australia’s 1st Brigade in Darwin starting next year.

The officer will remain under TNI command but will serve in an integrated role within the Australian Defense Force, working closely with U.S. Marine rotations stationed in northern Australia.

“This is a highly significant step in institutional ties between our defense forces. At the highest level, it represents an integrated position that expands opportunities for TNI officers to engage directly with the Australian Defense Force,” Marles said, as quoted by Antara.

Australia also plans to send a military survey team to Morotai, North Maluku, later this year to assess potential infrastructure development for training facilities. Marles expressed hope that the site would eventually host joint exercises, providing opportunities for both Indonesian and Australian troops.

Beyond defense infrastructure, Marles announced that the Young Leaders Forum scheduled for October will be expanded to include a component in Indonesia, doubling its duration. The initiative aims to foster stronger ties among junior officers at the captain and lieutenant levels from both countries.

The year ahead will also feature a series of joint exercises: exercise Kakadu later this month, with an Indonesian frigate joining one of Australia’s premier maritime drills; exercise Pitch Black in July, involving Indonesian Air Force participation in Australia’s biennial air combat training; exercise Chriswamara in October, a large-scale bilateral drill in Indonesia involving more than 2,000 personnel; and a trilateral defense ministers’ meeting in December with Papua New Guinea, following its inaugural session last year.

Marles described these initiatives as vital to advancing defense cooperation and building trust across the region. “This trilateral framework is an important part of the architecture for stability and confidence in our neighborhood,” he noted. ***