WNAM REPORT: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday announced a new bilateral agreement on defense and security during a joint press statement aboard the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Canberra in Sydney.
Both leaders, wearing caps emblazoned with the ship’s logo, addressed journalists from their respective countries after holding a private meeting and bilateral talks earlier in the day.
The agreement, reached during the meeting, aims to strengthen cooperation between the two nations in maintaining regional security and stability.
Albanese said the new accord reflects the longstanding friendship, mutual trust, and respect that underpin Australia-Indonesia relations, emphasizing their shared commitment to peace and regional stability.
He added that the deal marks a new phase in the partnership between the two neighbors and highlights their recognition that close cooperation remains the most effective way to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
President Prabowo began his statement by expressing gratitude to Albanese for the warm reception in Sydney, noting that although he had visited the country many times before, this was his first official state visit as president.
He said his discussions with Albanese had been productive and that both countries had reached a significant agreement to advance cooperation in key sectors.
Prabowo underlined Australia’s importance as one of Indonesia’s closest partners and reaffirmed Jakarta’s long-held foreign policy principle of maintaining good neighborly relations.
He said Indonesia believes that strong ties with neighboring countries are essential in times of difficulty, stressing that good neighbors are often the first to lend a helping hand.
After delivering their joint statements, the two leaders shook hands and posed for photographs before continuing informal discussions. Prabowo was accompanied by Foreign Minister Sugiono and senior Indonesian officials during the visit.
