Jakarta ( WNAM MONITORING): Indonesia’s Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has emphasized that the newly signed Indonesia-Australia Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) does not lay the foundation for a military alliance.
“This agreement is a manifestation of our commitment to maintaining and strengthening our close bonds and harmonious friendship,” he said in a video broadcast on YouTube, which was accessed from Jakarta on Thursday.
Prabowo, who will assume the Indonesian presidency in October 2024, made the statement after signing the DCA with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles at the Indonesian Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java, on Thursday.
Prabowo highlighted that the signing of the DCA marks a crucial milestone in the history of Indonesia-Australia relations, adding that the agreement will also encourage the two countries to contribute more to the preservation of stability and peace in the Asia-Pacific region.
Marles conveyed similar sentiments, emphasizing that Australia understands and fully respects Indonesia’s independent and active foreign policy, which requires the country to remain outside military alliances.
Marles, who also serves as the Australian Deputy Prime Minister, expressed optimism that the new agreement will help the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Australian Defense Force enhance their interoperability and contribute to maintaining world order.
Negotiations on the Indonesia-Australia DCA took place alternately in Jakarta and Canberra in May, August, and December last year, concluding on August 20.
Prabowo announced the conclusion of the negotiations during his meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra.
The DCA paves the way for Indonesia and Australia to jointly undertake defense and military programs, such as joint drills, exchanges of military cadets and officers, and increased dialogues between their military forces.
