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Australia and Indonesia have agreed a major defence treaty. However, Canberra has expressed considerable concern to its new partner over the possibility of Russia seeking access from Jakarta to an air base in eastern Indonesia.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong came under pressure from reports earlier this year that the Kremlin was actively seeking entry points into the Indonesian region of Papua, about 1,400km north of Darwin. Indonesia has publicly ruled out such an approach, while refusing to say whether Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had provided clarification to Australia on the matter.
Australia's concerns
" It's true that Indonesia has a long relationship with Russia. And Russia has had relationships with countries in our region. Our defense pacts impose an obligation on both countries to ensure that we consult on issues that are of importance to both sides ," Penny Wong told ABC News Australia.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced with Prabowo in Sydney this week that the countries have essentially completed talks on a new bilateral defense agreement to significantly expand security cooperation.
The agreements “ are intended to ensure that we work together to maintain stability and security in our region ,” Wong said in another interview. Ties between Indonesia and Australia have strengthened in recent years, overcoming Cold War tensions. However, Wong’s comments show that the base issue, which emerged as a concern in this year’s Australian election, continues to be a recurring theme. The Jane’s think tank reported in April that Russia had asked Indonesia for access to the Manuhua base in Papua for its military aircraft.
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