Regarding RI-Australia Relations, Prabowo: I Don't See There Will Be Many Shocks

Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto believes there will be no surprises for the relationship between Indonesia and Australia in the future.

The Indonesian government continues to apply good relations to all countries, especially neighboring countries including Australia.

"I don't see there will be many surprises, but what is certain is that, as stated by the deputy prime minister (Australia), we (Indonesia-Australia) are close neighbors. We are destined to be close neighbors and we are committed to having good relations with each other," Prabowo said, quoting Antara.

Prabowo continued that apart from his history there was a downwards in relations between Indonesia and Australia, in general the relationship between the two countries was good. Indonesia, according to Prabowo, always views Australia as a friend.

"We are also committed to maintaining and improving this relationship. So, I don't think there will be any surprises, but we intend to grow this good relationship in many sectors, education, economy, culture, military," Prabowo said.

He emphasized that education is also the government's top priority.

"Our main focus is on providing education to our people and we see Australia as the right partner," Prabowo said.

Australian Deputy PM Richard Marles met with Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto at the Indonesian Ministry of Defense Office, Jakarta, Friday.

The arrival of Marles to the Ministry of Defense Office today is his second visit in less than a year.

During the meeting, which lasted for approximately two hours, Marles emphasized that Indonesia and Australia face the same security threats in the region, and understanding of this is also the basis of the defense policies of each country.

Therefore, Marles emphasized that after his meeting with Prabowo, he believed the two countries would immediately sign a new, more complete defense cooperation agreement.

He said the discussion regarding the increase in the new defense cooperation agreement was getting closer to the final stage.

"We are in a position that also hopes that the agreement will be signed in the next few months," said Marles during a press conference.

If the cooperation agreement is signed, Marles believes the cooperation will be the most significant form of defense partnership in the history of relations between Indonesia and Australia.

"It will also be the most important moment in this bilateral relationship," said Marles.

In the same press conference, Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto estimated that the agreement would be signed by two countries in the next 2'3 months.

"We are planning for a short time to sign a defense cooperation agreement, with Australia which is likely to be completed and signed in 2'3 months," said Defense Minister Prabowo during a press conference after his meeting with Marles at the Indonesian Ministry of Defense Office, Jakarta, Friday.

Prabowo in his meeting with Marles, accompanied by a number of officials, including TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia Lt. Gen. TNI (Ret.) M. Herindra, Deputy Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Wakapolri) Komjen Pol. Agus Andrianto, Secretary General of the Indonesian Ministry of Defense Marshal Madya TNI Donny Ermawan Taufanto, and Chairman of Commission I DPR RI Meutya Hafid.