Australia’s and Indonesia’s leaders signed a security deal on Feb 6, one of a series of agreements that Canberra has secured with neighbouring countries to reinforce ties and limit China’s influence in the region.
At a signing ceremony, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who said before he travelled to Jakarta that the pact was a “watershed moment” in ties.
“It represents a major extension of our security and defence cooperation, and demonstrates that our relationship is as strong as it has ever been”, Mr Albanese said.
Australia’s centre-left government has signed a series of defence, police and aid deals across the Pacific region since taking office in 2022, attempting to boost its influence and to try to limit that of China.
The effort has intensified under the Trump administration as the US leans on allies to take up more of the burden in deterring Beijing’s growing military power.
In late 2025, Australia concluded a security deal with Papua New Guinea, which sits north of Australia and east of Indonesia, and Mr Albanese visited Timor-Leste in late January, signing a new agreement to provide various kinds of aid and support.
“The government can be very pleased with the agreements it signed across the Pacific,” said Mr Sam Roggeveen, director of the security programme at the Lowy Institute, a think-tank.
