Australia, Indonesia forge defense pact
President-elect and defense minister Prabowo Subianto also seeks cooperation on the economy, agriculture, food security and anti-drug trafficking
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President-elect and defense minister Prabowo Subianto also seeks cooperation on the economy, agriculture, food security and anti-drug trafficking
CANBERRA (AFP) — Australia and Indonesia cemented a landmark new defense pact Tuesday, pledging closer cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region as a new leader prepares to take over in Jakarta.
The pact — which includes provisions for joint drills and deployments to each country — was unveiled during Indonesian defense minister and president-elect Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Canberra.
Prabowo takes the reins of the world’s third-largest democracy on 20 October.
Speaking after meeting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Prabowo said the defense deal represented a “very good outcome” that would be “beneficial to both our countries in the future.”
Aside from defense, Prabowo expressed a wish for Australian cooperation on the economy, agriculture, food security and curbing international drug trafficking.
“We would like to see more Australian participation in our economy,” Prabowo told reporters at Australia’s Parliament House.
“I am determined to continue this good neighbor relationship... Australia plays a very important role for us.”
Since being elected in February, the ex-special forces commander has also visited China and Japan, displaying a keener interest in foreign affairs than incumbent Joko Widodo.
During Widodo’s decade-long tenure, he never attended the United Nations general assembly in New York, rarely spoke a foreign language and was regularly chided for taking little interest in foreign affairs.
On Tuesday, Prabowo said he wanted to follow the “general policies” of his predecessor, but also forge closer ties with Canberra.
“Prabowo is much more interested in international affairs,” said Greg Raymond, a foreign affairs expert from the Australian National University.
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