President Prabowo Highlights Strategic Partnership with Australia

President Prabowo Subianto delivers a joint press statement with Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese after inspecting the HMAS Canberra ship at Garden Island Naval Base, Sydney, Australia on Wednesday (11/12). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

President Prabowo Subianto expressed appreciation to the Australian Government for the warm welcome during his state visit.

This appreciation was conveyed during a joint press statement with Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese after inspecting the HMAS Canberra ship at Garden Island Naval Base, Sydney, Australia, Wednesday (11/12).

“I would like to once again thank the Australian Government, the Australian Prime Minister, and his administration for receiving me. This is my first state visit to Australia, although I have visited here often before, and I am pleased to have been received by the Governor-General this morning,” President Prabowo said.

The President stated that both countries have reached important agreements in defense and security sector that strengthen the strategic partnership between the neighboring countries. The agreement, according to him, marks a new milestone for Indonesia and Australia in building closer cooperation to ensure shared regional stability and security.

“We had a very good discussion, and I believe we have reached an important agreement, an important treaty between Australia and Indonesia, which commits to close cooperation in defense and security sector, and basically reaffirms our determination to enhance our friendship and, as partners and close neighbors, our resolve to maintain the best relations to improve and guarantee the security of our two countries,” said President Prabowo.

For the record, defense and security cooperation between the two countries has increased significantly and now functions as one of the main pillars of bilateral relations. The first memorandum of understanding on defense was signed in 1995, then strengthened by the Lombok Treaty in 2006, and the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) in 2024.

The Head of State emphasized the importance of the good neighbour policy spirit as the foundation of relations between the two countries. President Prabowo affirmed that Indonesia and Australia are destined to live side by side as neighbors who respect and help each other, especially when facing common challenges.

“It is our destiny to be immediate neighbors, so let us face our destiny with the best intent. I believe in the good neighbour policy. Good neighbors are important. Good neighbors help each other in difficult times, and in Indonesian culture, there is a proverb that in an emergency, it is our neighbors who will come to help. Our relatives may be far away and our neighbors are the closest, and good neighbors will help each other,” President Prabowo stated.

At the end of his statement, President Prabowo again expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Albanese and the Australian Government for their friendly reception. “Once again, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, thank you very much for receiving me warmly,” President Prabowo said, accompanied by applause from the audience. (BPMI) (EST/MMB)