Jakarta. Indonesia and Australia unveiled a new security pact on Wednesday when President Prabowo Subianto made a whirlwind visit to the close neighbor. 

Both governments have substantially concluded the negotiations on the treaty that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called a “signal to a new era” in their ties. Albanese is planning to visit Jakarta in January to formally sign the document. The pact is expected to undergo some domestic processes prior to the signing. 

According to Albanese, both countries will regularly consult at a leader and ministerial-level on security matters.

“This treaty will commit Australia and Indonesia ... to identify and undertake mutually beneficial security activities, and if either or both countries’ security is threatened,” Albanese told the joint presser. 

“To consult and consider what measures may be taken, either individually or jointly, to deal with those threats.”

Prabowo repeated his preference for what he called a “good neighbor policy” as Jakarta sought to maintain the "best of relationship" to maintain security.

"It is our destiny to be direct neighbors. Let's face our destiny with the best of intentions. ... Good neighbors are essential, and will help each other in times of difficulties," the retired army general said. 

The neighboring nations already have a string of defense agreements, including the landmark 1995 Suharto-Keating treaty. Australia’s then-Prime Minister Paul Keating had repeatedly stated how Canberra should consider Jakarta a priority in its foreign policies. Albanese admitted that the new agreement was “predominantly based” on the 1995 document. 

Since then, the two G20 economies have struck some security-related agreements, namely the 2006 Lombok Treaty and another in 2024. Prabowo signed the treaty last year, when he was still the defense minister. The 2024 defense cooperation agreement had opened doors for more complex joint military exercises.

This also marks Prabowo's first state visit to Australia.

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