Asia & Pacific
During their annual foreign and defense ministers' meeting on Aug. 26, the two neighbors pledged to deepen cooperation with a particular view to enhancing security in the Indo-Pacific amid rising global power rivalry and food and energy shocks from the Mideast war.
Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (left) and Foreign Minister Sugiono (second right) pose with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Minister Richard Marles (second left) and Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Aug. 26, 2026, during the 10th Australia-Indonesia Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Melbourne. (Courtesy of/Foreign Ministry)
Indonesia and Australia pledged on Wednesday to deepen cooperation on security, maritime affairs and regional resilience in the Indo-Pacific, with Jakarta pushing for stronger energy and supply chain cooperation.The commitment came during the countries’ 10th annual 2+2 meeting in Melbourne, where Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Foreign Minister Sugiono attended talks with their Australian hosts, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Opening the talks, the four ministers said in a statement that Jakarta and Canberra would focus this year on implementing the Treaty on Common Security, signed in February by President Prabowo Subianto and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
