Defense Minister Prabowo Signs RI-Australia Defense Cooperation Agreement At Akmil Magelang

JAKARTA - Indonesia and Australia signed a legally binding Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA).

This agreement includes increasing military cooperation, education, training, and various efforts to maintain security and stability in the Asia Pacific region. The signing took place at the Graha Utama Hall, Magelang Military Academy (Akmil), on Thursday, August 29.

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto stated that DCA is an important step in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

"As neighbors who are directly adjacent, we are committed to helping each other overcome various security threats and promoting sustainable peace," Prabowo said.

Prabowo also emphasized the importance of maintaining and improving good relations between Indonesia and Australia. "We want to continue to maintain the close friendship that has been established. I am committed to making this relationship stronger in the future," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Australian Minister of Defense, Richard Donald Marles, expressed his appreciation to Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and the parading Akmil cadets.

"Thank you to Mr. Prabowo for this opportunity. We were very impressed with today's cadets parade," said Marles.

He also emphasized that DCA is the most important defense agreement in the history of bilateral relations between the two countries. "This shows that we are close friends, and this agreement reflects that commitment," he added.

The RI-Australia Defense Cooperation Agreement is designed to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership that has been built for nearly 60 years.

Over the past decade, the two countries have increased the intensity of military cooperation, including sending TNI cadets to the Australian Defense Forces Academy (ADFA) and the Duntroon Military Academy, as well as joint military exercises between the TNI and the Australian Defense Force (ADF).

The DCA negotiation process was carried out through a series of meetings in Jakarta in May and December, as well as in Canberra in August 2023. The success of this signing reflects the increasingly close defense cooperation between Indonesia and Australia.

These two countries are optimistic that DCA will increase their ability to anticipate security threats in the Asia-Pacific region. This collaboration is expected to maintain sustainable peace and stability in the region.